DMK moves Madras HC seeking CBI, DRI probe into Koovathur bribe charge
Chennai: The DMK has moved the Madras high court seeking a probe by the CBI and the DRI into the alleged payments made to some ruling AIADMK party MLAs ahead of the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Edappadi K.Palaniswami on the floor of the Assembly on February 18.
Senior counsel R.Shanmughasundaram, appearing for the DMK party by its working president M.K.Stalin, made a special mention to this effect before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M.Sundar on Tuesday.
Referring to reports in a section of media about the alleged pay-offs of crores of rupees to some MLAs for their support to the trust vote, Shanmughasundaram pointed out that the PIL filed by Stalin with regard to the confidence motion is already pending before this Bench and sought permission to file a miscellaneous petition now, seeking a CBI and DRI probe into the alleged payoffs.
He said he would file the miscellaneous petition on Wednesday and requested the court to take up the case early for hearing. Permitting him to file a petition, the bench said it will be taken up in regular course for hearing on Friday, if filed.
In his pending PIL, Stalin sought to declare as illegal, the decision taken by the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker on the floor of Assembly on February 18 on the confidence motion moved by chief minister Edappadi K.Palaniswami.
He also sought a direction to the Assembly Speaker to conduct fresh floor test on the confidence motion moved by Edappadi Palaniswami by holding secret ballot.
