The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea moved by the DMK seeking to order a probe by the CBI and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) into the alleged sting operation by two television channels in which two MLAs belonging to rival AIADMK factions claimed money was offered to legislators to buy their support in February this year.
The First Bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice V. Bhavani Subbaroyan passed the direction based on the submission made by the DRI that the department is in no way connected with the issue and that it could take up investigation only into the aspects of smuggling related matters.
On June 12, two television channels aired video recordings of what they claimed to be a sting operation involving the Madurai South MLA, S.S. Saravanan (AIADMK-PTA), and Sulur MLA R. Kanagaraj (AIADMK-Amma).
Inducements alleged
The MLAs were heard claiming that in the days following the rebellion of former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam against AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala, money and gold was offered to legislators to win their support.
Based on the video recordings of the television channels, the principal Opposition party — the DMK — approached the court seeking a probe by the CBI and DRI into the allegations within a time frame fixed by the court. The DMK sought the relief as an additional prayer in the already pending PIL plea moved by the party assailing the Motion of Confidence moved and won by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in the Assembly on February 18.
When the plea came up for hearing, the Bench noted that the DRI and the CBI are not necessary or proper parties as no relief has been claimed in the main petition against the proposed respondents.
As the Bench was prepared to dismiss the plea, petitioner’s counsel sought liberty to initiate such appropriate proceeding as the petitioner may be advised.
