The Hindu : DVAC identifies 'huge assets' of DMK leaders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 20, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

DVAC identifies 'huge assets' of DMK leaders

By S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI NOV. 19. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption is said to have identified ``huge assets'' belonging to DMK leaders, including former Ministers, in India and abroad.

Having ascertained that the immovable property was amassed during 1996-2001, the DVAC is now gathering documentary evidence. The premises of the accused were already raided all over the State and cases of ``wealth disproportionate to known sources of income'' registered.

``We have also frozen the bank and locker transactions of some of the accused,'' the DVAC Director and Additional Director-General of Police, G. Thilakavathy, told The Hindu here yesterday.

The investigation against the DMK leaders was a ``painstaking exercise'' and the police were adopting ``scientific methods'' to collect evidence.

Confirming that the former Ministers had assets and investments in Tamil Nadu, neighbouring States and foreign countries, Ms. Thilakavathy said the bulk of the wealth was registered in `benami' names, usually of close relatives.

Though the ``best of information'' was flowing in from ``unexpected quarters'', the investigators were probing the facts professionally.

Indicating that the DVAC had gathered adequate evidence to file charge sheets, the ADGP, however, did not divulge when charges would be framed.

The accused include the former Ministers, K. Ponmudi, `Samayanallur' S. Selvaraj, Jennifer Chandran and Durai Murugan and the former Madurai Mayor, P. Kulandaivelu, who, however, termed the raids a `political vendetta'. Their immovable property was also assessed by PWD engineers.

Referring to the rate of conviction in corruption cases pursued by the Directorate, Ms. Thilakavathy said it was the best in the country. ``The judiciary is conscious and sensitive to rooting out corruption and punishing the corrupt''.

The DVAC was functioning as an ``independent elite investigation agency with absolutely no pressure from any quarter''.

Meanwhile, police sources said the DVAC case might also be linked to some top officials, who were then holding vital positions, for ``doing some favours in the process of making money''.

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