Reiterating his demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) into the alleged sting operation in which two MLAs belonging to rival AIADMK factions claimed money was offered to legislators to buy their support in February this year, Opposition Leader M.K. Stalin contended that the operation has only brought corroborative evidence in support of DMK’s earlier allegations against the Motion of Confidence won by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Mr. Stalin made the submissions through a rejoinder filed in response to the counter affidavits filed by the Chief Minister and the Assembly Secretary on the PIL seeking to declare the Motion of Confidence moved by the Chief Minister as null and void, and on the additional plea seeking probe into the sting operation.
Pointing to the submissions of Mr. Palaniswami that the additional plea for CBI probe travels beyond the scope of the main petition, Mr. Stalin said, “The sting operation has only brought out corroborative evidence in support of my earlier allegations, and therefore, the additional prayer for probe falls entirely within the scope of the main plea.”
The offer of bribe in the form of money and gold would have a direct and incontrovertible link with the Motion of Confidence, which is the subject matter of the main petition, the DMK leader added.
He further submitted that the offences fell under the scope of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Customs Act, Income Tax Act, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
