CHENNAI: In a scathing criticism of Tamil Nadu’s premier anti-corruption agency — the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) — Madras high court on Thursday called it a ‘chameleon that takes its colour from the ruling party’.
The judge made the observations while initiating suo motu revision of former Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam’s discharge in a disappropriate assets case 11 years ago and issued notice to him and his family members — his wife P Vijayalakshmi, his MP-son P Ravindranathkumar, his brother O Raja and his wife R Sasikalawathy, and his brother O Balamurugan and his wife B Latha Maheswari. All the accused have been directed to be present in the court on September 27.
“The DVAC behaves like puppets in the Muppets show and sings a different tune in tandem with its political masters,” said Justice N Anand Venkatesh, adding: “It is a shame on the criminal justice system. It would be better to say that (anti-corruption) law will not apply to MPs and MLAs.”
Justifying the suo motu action initiated more than 11 years after the discharge order passed by Sivaganga chief judicial magistrate, Justice Anand Venkatesh said Panneerselvam’s 2012 discharge was the starting point for this pattern.
Even the two cases pertaining to DMK ministers Thangam Thennarasu and K K S S R Ramachandran — against whom the court had already initiated suo motu revision, have followed the same pattern — the judge said. Justice Anand Venkatesh said he was in process of testing all such orders passed by special courts for cases against MPs and MLAs.
Explaining the modus operandi followed in such cases, the judge said, “At the centre of the plot is the DVAC. When a political party comes to power in the state, the DVAC swoops down on the opposition and clamps cases of corruption.”
Panneerselvam now becomes the only non-DMK political leader to face the suo motu revision of his discharge from the disproportionate assets case filed by the DVAC.
The judge made the observations while initiating suo motu revision of former Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam’s discharge in a disappropriate assets case 11 years ago and issued notice to him and his family members — his wife P Vijayalakshmi, his MP-son P Ravindranathkumar, his brother O Raja and his wife R Sasikalawathy, and his brother O Balamurugan and his wife B Latha Maheswari. All the accused have been directed to be present in the court on September 27.
“The DVAC behaves like puppets in the Muppets show and sings a different tune in tandem with its political masters,” said Justice N Anand Venkatesh, adding: “It is a shame on the criminal justice system. It would be better to say that (anti-corruption) law will not apply to MPs and MLAs.”
Justifying the suo motu action initiated more than 11 years after the discharge order passed by Sivaganga chief judicial magistrate, Justice Anand Venkatesh said Panneerselvam’s 2012 discharge was the starting point for this pattern.
Even the two cases pertaining to DMK ministers Thangam Thennarasu and K K S S R Ramachandran — against whom the court had already initiated suo motu revision, have followed the same pattern — the judge said. Justice Anand Venkatesh said he was in process of testing all such orders passed by special courts for cases against MPs and MLAs.
Explaining the modus operandi followed in such cases, the judge said, “At the centre of the plot is the DVAC. When a political party comes to power in the state, the DVAC swoops down on the opposition and clamps cases of corruption.”
Panneerselvam now becomes the only non-DMK political leader to face the suo motu revision of his discharge from the disproportionate assets case filed by the DVAC.