Opposition leaders have demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in the wake of allegations linking him to the sensational murder of a security guard and the break-in at late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s Kodanad Estate bungalow in 2017.
Demanding the CM’s resignation, DMK president M.K. Stalin urged the Centre to order a CBI probe into the issue, adding that the guilty should be punished without further delay. Governor Banwarilal Purohit should also inquire into the matter, he said, and warned that the DMK would take legal action if no action was forthcoming.
Whatever happened inside the ruling party and the government since Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation remained a mystery, and it was the duty of the Centre to bring out the truth, he said.
Listing a sequence of events right from Jayalalithaa’s death to the developments at Kodanad Estate, DMK propaganda secretary and former Union Minister A. Raja claimed that the Chief Minister would be the first accused in the case.
Claiming that there was a lack of police presence on the night the guard at the estate was killed, Mr. Raja wondered why the power supply was snapped despite the availability of a dedicated power line. The CCTVs were also not working, he claimed, adding that all these factors raised suspicion.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran called for a court-monitored investigation into the case.
While MDMK chief Vaiko demanded the CM’s resignation, the CPI(M) demanded that the investigation into the guard’s murder and the break-in at the bungalow be transferred to the CBI.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi president M.H. Jawahirullah urged Mr. Palaniswami to step down and called on the Madras High Court to initiate a probe into the incident.
‘Clear your name’
Anna Dravidar Kazhagam general secretary V. Dhivaharan said the CM should clear his name.
“It will be difficult to conceal the truth of the matter. And, it would be better if the CBI takes over the case,” he said.
He said he was willing to join the AIADMK if there was a “proper invitation”.
