Leaders condemn TN government for hiding facts from High Court

Opposition party leaders in Tamil Nadu on Friday slammed the state government for concealing from the Madras High Court the letter from the Income Tax Department in connection with the alleged gutka scam.

DMK's Working President M.K. Stalin demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the allegations mentioned in the letter from the Income Tax Department.

He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami had informed the assembly that the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption investigations were underway with regard to the gutka scam.

"...the Chief Secretary had wilfully not mentioned the letter from Income tax Department with regards to this scam in her affidavit to the court. Hence, it is imperative to order a CBI inquiry to investigate the allegations mentioned in the letter from the IT Department," Stalin said.

PMK leader S. Ramadoss in a statement said it was shocking to note that the Tamil Nadu government concealed the letter from the tax department from the High Court.

He said the court on its own should take this as a separate case and also order a probe by the CBI.

Stalin cited a report in The Hindu daily in this connection.

The leaders' reactions came a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan filed in the court that her office had not received any letter from the IT Department, asking the government to proceed against those involved in the gutka scam. - IANS