CBI has powers to probe, whoever violates Constitution is wrong: D Jayakumar

Chennai: The ruling AIADMK was cautious in reacting to the standoff between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the BJP-led government at the Centre, saying the CBI has power to probe but it “has to adopt a certain framework for that.” Party senior and Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar maintained that “whoever violated” the constitution is “wrong.”

While justifying that the CBI was doing its job to bring out the ‘truth’ the Minister said the central agency has powers to probe. “Whatever it be, the CBI has powers to probe anyone, enquire anyone. They are doing their job...the central agency has to adopt certain framework for that,” Mr. Jayakumar told reporters here on Monday.

He however said how the CBI went about would only be known in the court. “There are provisions in the Constitution for everyone. If everyone functions within that framework of authority, there is no problem. Whoever violates it, it is wrong,” he said.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK commenced the distribution of nomination forms to aspiring candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, amidst speculation that it will tie up with the BJP.

The distribution of application forms, each priced at Rs. 25,000, started at the party headquarters in the presence of convener and Deputy Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam and co-convener and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

On Sunday, Mr. Panneerselvam had said the AIADMK was in talks with like-minded parties both at the state and national level but did not name them. He said the details of the alliance talks were top secret. “We will let you know when the knot is untied,” he had said.