Chennai: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) today informed the Madras High Court that it has started preliminary investigation into the corruption charges made by the DMK against Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami 22 June.

The DMK yesterday approached the court seeking a direction to the DVAC to register a case based on its complaint of corruption against Palaniswami.

This case was taken up for hearing today during which the judges were told that the probe has commenced. They then questioned the government prosecutor as to why preliminary investigation was being carried out for more than two months.

The judges asked the government to respond on the action taken by the DVAC so far and asked it to submit the report during the next hearing 3 September.

Moving the plea on behalf of the DMK, its organising secretary R S Bharathi alleged that Palaniswami, who holds the portfolio of the State Highways, had abused his power to allocate five road-laying and maintenance projects worth Rs 3,500 crore to firms owned by his relatives and benamis.

Most of the projects were funded by the World Bank, he added.

“Palaniswami, being a government servant, entered into a criminal conspiracy with his relatives and benamis and thereby committed criminal misconduct and obtained undue pecuniary advantage for himself. These offences attract punishment under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Bharathi  had said.

In his affidavit, Bharathi also said although a complaint was made 13 June, against Palaniswami, no action had been taken by the DVAC.

CALL TO RESIGN

CPI State secretary R Mutharasan today said Palaniswami should resign from his post to ensure that the case was investigated in a fair manner.

Similarly, CPI(M) State secretary K Balakrishnan said it is doubtful whether the DVAC will even investigate and arrest Palaniswami. Hence, the Chief Minister along with Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam should resign, he added.