Pondy

March 16 2002

A thatched shed used by members of a minority community for prayers at Sultanpet, was gutted in a fire mishap last night, police said today.

Fire fighting units brought the flames under control.

The cause of the fire could not be ascertained immediately and the police have registered a case and investigation was on.

Pondicherry C. M. N Rangasamy, accompanied by Agriculture Minister A. Namasivayam, PCC leader V Narayanasamy, party legislator M O H F Shahjahan and senior superintendent of police Anand Mohan, visited the spot.

‘Law should take its course’

Chennai

March 17 2002

Declining to comment on the raids being carried out by the Tamil Nadu police on the residences of former ministers belonging to the DMK, an ally of the NDA, Union Rural Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the law should, however, be allowed to take its own course.

Addressing a press conference here, he said “it should not be an exercise of political vendetta”.

During the last two days, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption had raided the residences of several former state ministers, their relatives and associates following allegations that they possessed assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Those against whom cases have been registered included Dr Ponmudi, Samayanallur Selvaraj, Andiyur Selvaraj and Suresh Rajan, all former DMK ministers.

Raids continue at D.M.K ex-ministers' houses

CHENNAI

MARCH 16 2002

As the spree of raids on the houses of former DMK ministers continued for the second day today, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, asserted that the searches were not vindictive but were based on ``concrete evidence''.

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption police conducted the raids only after obtaining search warrants. And the Government ``does not interfere'' with the procedures observed by the DVAC as per the Cr.P.C. and the DVAC manual, she said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa, however, refused to divulge the nature of charges against the former ministers, saying the DVAC would reveal them in due course. There was no ``particular reason'' for conducting the raids simultaneously. Asked whether the raids would continue against more former DMK ministers, she said, ``We have many more complaints. They will be processed''.

As for the searches at the residences of the former Ministers, K. Ponmudi, Anthiyur Selvaraj, Suresh Rajan and Samayanallur Selvaraj, as also two DMK functionaries, P. Kulandaivelu and N. Periasamy, she said several complaints of misdeeds by the DMK regime and its ministers were received after May 14 last . The complaints were forwarded to the DVAC, which in most of the cases had enough material for proceeding against the former ministers after a detailed enquiry.

The DVAC sought permission for proceeding against the former Transport Minister, Mr. Ponmudi, on December 6 last and orders were issued by the Government on January 11, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

In the case of the former Khadi Minister, Anthiyur Selvaraj, the go-ahead was given on February 6 based on a DVAC report submitted on November 23 last. As for the former Tourism Minister, Suresh Rajan, the Government issued orders on January 11 on the DVAC recommendations of November 9 last.

To persistent queries on the raids, she said: ``Mr. O. Paneerselvam (former Chief Minister) is the Minister for Vigilance and Anti-Corruption now''.

Asked whether a single special court was adequate to prosecute the former ministers, Ms. Jayalalithaa said, ``All these matters will be decided later''.

Sources in the DVAC said the searches were conducted in Mr. Ponmudi's house at Villupuram and in his in-law's house at Bahala in Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Samayanallur Selvaraj's house in Madurai would be searched after he reached there.

Documents relating to land and buildings had been seized. Some high value policies, deposits and lease documents and cash totalling Rs. 4 lakhs were also seized. Over 550 sovereigns of jewellery, expensive television sets, airconditioners, electronic items, expensive furniture and vehicles were found. Lockers belonging to some of them had to be opened and the contents assessed. The houses and other buildings had to be evaluated before their correct value could be given, the sources said.