No bias in DVAC probe into Stalin's wealth: judge

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 19. The Principal Judge of the City Civil Court, Chennai, Mr. S. Ashok Kumar, today dismissed a complaint which sought a Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) probe into the wealth of the Chennai Mayor, Mr.M. K. Stalin.

Rejecting all contentions put forth by the complainant Mr.S.P. Shenbagamoorthy against Mr. Stalin, the judge said he was accepting the report filed by the DVAC.

Last month, Mr. Shenbagamoorthy of Sivakasi, moved the court seeking a probe into what he called the wealth amassed by Mr. Stalin disproportionate to his known sources of income. The judge asked the DVAC to make a detailed preliminary enquiry and report back to the court. After the DVAC filed a report stating there was no prima facie case against Mr. Stalin, the complainant said the enquiry was biased. He said many details in the report were inconsistent.

Passing orders, Mr. Ashok Kumar said all particulars of the land and construction of (Mr. Stalin's Velachery) house were well proved with documentary evidence collected by the DVAC. The income particulars of Mr. Stalin, as MLA and the income of his wife and allowances received by Mr. Stalin's son and also the loans obtained by Mr. Stalin and his wife, were substantiated by documentary proof. The complainant's contention that the house was constructed in a 1.5 acre area and there was a swimming pool in the house and the cost of the construction was Rs.3 crores, were ``utterly false'', the order said.

The Judge said there was nothing to suspect the bank transactions. A perusal of the voluminous records produced by the DVAC proved that the complainant's allegation of biased investigation was utterly false.

He noted that Mr. Stalin, in an affidavit filed before the court, submitted that apart from praying for an inquiry and cooperating with the inquiry, had stated that ``...As the first citizen of Chennai elected as Mayor by a vast majority of votes, I will be and shall be the first person in upholding purity in public life''. The judge said Mr. Stalin had practically done so. The report of the DVAC was accepted and the complaint filed by Mr. Shenbagamoorthy rejected, he added.

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