The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : CBI may rule out involvement of Ministers in Jayalakshmi case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 08, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

CBI may rule out involvement of Ministers in Jayalakshmi case

By S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI, MARCH 7 . The Central Bureau of Investigation has not found any "substance" in the allegations levelled against top ruling party functionaries, including a former Chief Minister, in the Jayalakshmi case.

While there was no evidence to prove the corruption charge against the former Chief Minister, the sleaze allegation involving a Minister and senior functionaries of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was also found "untrue."

In an interview to a private television channel, A. Jayalakshmi (32) of Sivakasi went on record stating she accompanied an Additional Superintendent of Police, who for a favour offered a few lakhs of rupees to the then Chief Minister in his chamber at the Secretariat in Chennai. However, investigations revealed no concrete evidence to prove that the police official had called on the VIP, highly placed CBI sources told The Hindu today.

In another allegation, two persons deposed before the CBI that a State Minister and other AIADMK functionaries of Tirunelveli had arranged for bail for Ms. Jayalakshmi in a Suppression of Immoral Trafficking Act case. They said the Minister, along with other party leaders, drove to Courtallam.

`Motivated'

Enquiries, the CBI official claimed, did not reveal any truth in the allegations. "The petitioner herself denied having met the Minister in the Circuit House at Tirunelveli. The charges appear to have been false and motivated," said an investigating official.

The charges were not corroborated. After considering the records, statements of persons concerned and circumstantial evidence, the CBI might rule out the involvement of the Ministers, the official pointed out. The final report would be filed early next month.

Kidnap case

Meanwhile, the CBI is preparing to file the charge sheet in the Maraneri abduction case soon. Sources said the agency had sought the State Government's sanction to prosecute an inspector for serious irregularities in the discharge of his duties. In the event of delay, the investigation officer might file the charge sheet in the designated special court in Madurai and obtain sanction later.

The inspector had colluded with other accused police personnel and furnished a "false report" to the court. Enquiries revealed that the inspector had made calls on a mobile phone to the other accused.

In an affidavit filed in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, Ms. Jayalakshmi levelled allegations of abduction, rape, assault and cheating against 22 police personnel, including a former superintendent.

In the abduction case, her father, K. Alagirisamy, said the police kidnapped four family members from their house at Maraneri in Virudhunagar district. The Bench then handed over the case to the CBI.

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