NSG takes over Karunanidhi's security

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 25. National Security Guards (NSG) personnel took charge of the security of the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, here this evening.

The Union Home Ministry recently accorded ``Z plus'' category security, accompanied by NSG cover, to Mr. Karunanidhi after DMK MPs led by the Union Minister, Mr. T.R. Baalu, had taken up with the Centre the matter of providing additional security to the DMK leader in the wake of his June 30 arrest.

Mr. Sumit Kumar, Deputy Commandant, who is in the additional SP rank, arrived with a first contingent of six black- cat commandos and reported to Mr. Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence.

A bullet-proof vehicle will arrive here shortly, as part of the security arrangements.

The security provided by the State police to the former Chief Minister is also expected to continue.

To a reporter's query how he felt about the NSG cover, Mr. Karunanidhi emerging out of his house, quipped, ``your (media) presence itself is safety''.

`We have nothing to do with SC petitions'

Meanwhile, in a statement here, Mr. Karunanidhi refuted the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa's allegation that his party was ``instigating petitions'' in the Supreme Court against her.

Denying her charge that DMK appeared to be behind the writ petition filed by the wife of a Chennai-based businessman, Mr. P.K. Salahuddin, `implicated' in a recent case related to Mr. Sudhagaran, disowned foster son of Ms. Jayalalithaa, Mr. Karunanidhi said his party had nothing to do with it.

Mr. Karunanidhi termed her charge `motivated'. ``There is absolutely no link between this petition and the DMK'', just as his party had nothing to do with the series of developments, from Ms. Jayalalithaa adopting Mr. Sudhagaran to his arrest, along with a few others, on charges of heroin possession, after her becoming Chief Minister.

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