India
On Tuesday, the AIADMK delegation said that they met the Governor and told him that Stalin had taken up the matter for 'political mileage.'
Chennai: On Tuesday, the ruling AIADMK met the Tamil Nadu Governor over the controversy surrounding the Kodanad estate break-in and described the motive of the opposition DMK's demand for a special investigation team probe as ‘political mileage.’
A delegation of party leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam and former state minister K P Munusamy, called on Banwarilal Purohit, a day after DMK President and Opposition leader MK Stalin met the Governor.
The ruling party said it was its "duty" to apprise the Governor after the leader of the Opposition had levelled such a "big charge" against chief minister K Palaniswami on Monday.
Upping the ante on the 2017 Kodanad estate heist video clip DMK, on Monday, urged the Governor to direct Palaniswami to resign from his post to ensure a free and fair probe into the matter.
Palaniswami has been linked to the break-in by some of the accused in the case, which he has categorically rejected.
The DMK had also urged for a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising officers of the rank of Inspector General of Police and called for further investigation into the "mysterious death" of alleged key conspirator Kanagaraj.
"We told the Governor that DMK's demand for the SIT is purely for political mileage. Stalin is seeking to use statements made by persons accused of murder and extortion, and that too, two years after the incident," Munusamy told reporters.
He insisted that the AIADMK delegation had voluntarily met Purohit and that the latter did not invite them to discuss the matter.
"Karunanidhi went silent after it was proved (that they were not the accused persons). If the father did something like that, his son (Stalin) is doing something like this now," he said.
Stalin had levelled "baseless charges" against the chief minister, Munusamy said, adding that AIADMK could initiate legal action against the DMK leader over the issue.
Two suspects in the case, K V Sayan and Valayar Manoj had levelled charges, linking Palaniswami to the break-in in the clip that was released in Delhi.
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