Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday vehemently opposed a request made by DMK organising secretary R.S. Bharathi to withdraw the latter’s 2018 plea seeking a Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) inquiry into alleged nepotism and corruption in award of contracts by State highways department.
Appearing before Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, Senior Counsel N.R. Elango, representing Mr. Bharathi, sought the court’s permission to withdraw the 2018 petition in view of various developments. He said the High Court had ordered a CBI inquiry in the case on October 12, 2018 but the Supreme Court reversed the order on August 3, 2022.
State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohamed Jinnah told the court that the Vigilance Commissioner had not accepted a preliminary inquiry report submitted by the DVAC in 2018 giving a clean chit to Mr. Palaniswami who was the then Chief Minister holding the State highways portfolio. He also stated that a fresh inquiry had been ordered now into the matter.
