The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Minister's nexus with Jayalakshmi alleged

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Minister's nexus with Jayalakshmi alleged

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, JAN. 25. In a new twist to the Jayalakshmi case, senior ruling party functionaries, including a State Minister, have been accused of having a close "nexus" with the 32-year-old woman of Sivakasi.

K. Rajamani of Tirunelveli, who was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation here today, alleged that a senior All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam district functionary on December 3, 2002, gave Rs. 3,000 for securing bail for Ms. Jayalakshmi, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody by the Tirunelveli town police in connection with an Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act case.

While Mr. Rajamani engaged a local lawyer to move the bail petition, his friends, whose names were given as Chandran and Alandappan, appeared as sureties for Ms. Jayalakshmi in a magistrate's court. On release from the Kokkarakulam sub-jail, she was picked up by the AIADMK functionaries and driven to the Circuit House, where the Minister was staying.

"The Minister spent some time with Ms. Jayalakshmi in the Circuit House and then left for Courtallam along with her. The AIADMK functionaries also accompanied him. He [the Minister] gave me Rs. 500," Mr. Rajamani told reporters.

After her release from the prison, Ms. Jayalakshmi failed to appear for adjournments. "When the sureties raised objections, I approached the lawyer who said Ms. Jayalakshmi was closely associated to the Minister and steps were taken to drop action against her," he said.

False case

However, after the Jayalakshmi case was handed over to the CBI by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, the trio (Rajamani, Chandran and Alandappan) decided to petition the judge on why they arranged for the bail for Ms. Jayalakshmi and who paid for it.

"But the AIADMK functionaries came to know of it in advance. In a bid to prevent us from filing the affidavit, the Palayamkottai police registered a false case and arrested us," Mr. Rajamani said in a handwritten statement circulated to the Press.

While listing 10 names, including that of the Minister and the then inspector of the Tirunelveli town station, the petitioners feared for their life. Mr. Rajamani claimed that he also gave a copy of the statement to the investigating officials.

Video proof

Meanwhile, the advocate for an accused head constable appeared before the CBI sleuths in the office of the Special Police Establishment and submitted video and photo evidence against Ms. Jayalakshmi. "The CBI officials said a few other lawyers (of accused policemen) also claimed to have proof against Ms. Jayalakhsmi and sought submission of such materials at one stroke," the advocate, R. Gandhi, said.

Ms. Jayalakshmi had levelled serious allegations including abduction, cheating, assault and rape against more than 20 police officials. A special team of the CBI's Anti-Corruption Bureau is investigating the case.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section