Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Monday sought sanction from Tamil Nadu governor Surjit Singh Barnala to prosecute chief minister M. Karunanidhi for allegedly allotting government land to a “favoured few” under the discretionary quota in violation of rules.
This is Dr Swamy’s second salvo at Mr Karunanidhi after petitioning the Supreme Court accusing the DMK chief of involvement in the alleged 2G spectrum scam. The CM responded by sending a legal notice to Dr Swamy on Sunday threatening criminal action if he failed to retract the allegation “within 24 hours”.
With Mr Barnala declining time to meet him, Dr Swamy handed over his petition to the ADC outside the Raj Bhavan gates, declaring to the large group of mediapersons there that he expected a quick response to his plea, just as Karnataka governor H.R. Bhardwaj did in the case of chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. “He (Karunanidhi) has violated every rule and allotted (land) to a favoured few,” he alleged, adding he possessed evidence to back his charge. “I will never say anything without proof. I have done it always and have won my cases.”
Dr Swamy alleged the Tamil Nadu Housing Board had earmarked 15 per cent of the land in its possession for the CM to make discretionary allotments. The CM’s allotments were in violation of Sections 11 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, he alleged. “Hence Karunanidhi must resign and be prosecuted,” Dr Swamy said. Answering a question, he said he had listed the names of the beneficiaries but would not disclose details. “I have given names of people who don’t deserve to get it. It includes civil servants, judges, police officials and a variety of people.”
Asked about the CM’s legal notice to him, Dr Swamy said he was yet to receive it. “If it comes, I will put it in the wastepaper basket. He has no guts. Let him go to court. He is sending legal notices only to terrorise the media,” claimed Dr Swamy.