Days after the Kodanadu controversy was brought back into the limelight by Tehelka’s former editor Samuel Mathew, DMK President and leader of the opposition MK Stalin demanded a Special Investigation Team to be formed to probe into the allegations.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai on Sunday, Stalin listed out Samuel Mathew’s allegations and stated that Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami had not denied any of the claims made by Samuel Mathew.
“Yesterday, Edappadi (Palaniswami) met the reporters and yet he couldn’t respond to any allegations raised by Mathew. By watching the way Edappadi (Palaniswami) was crouching, it is evident that he was the one behind all these deaths. He did not refute any of the allegations put forth by Mathew. He just said that the case is in progress and that this was a political conspiracy,” Stalin said. He was referring to the press meet conducted by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Saturday in which he denied all the allegations made by Samuel Mathew. The Tamil Nadu government also filed a complaint with the police against the journalist.
Attributing the police complaint on the journalist to Edappadi Palaniswami’s fear, Stalin demanded that Palaniswami resign from the post of a Chief Minister immediately and an SIT, under the watch of Madras High Court, be formed to probe these allegations.
“This SIT must question not just Edappadi Palaniswami but also all the ministers and Sasikala’s family. The SIT must also tell the people the whereabouts of the Rs 2,000 crore that was in Kodanadu estate,” he added.
In the investigation, Mathew Samuel had recorded the testimonies of Sayan and 'Walayar' Manoj, both accused in the Kodanadu break-in case and the murder of security guard Om Bahadur. The two claimed that they had been employed by Kanakaraj (Jayalalithaa's former driver) to break into the estate and retrieve Rs 2,000 crore money and important documents. These men had claimed that the crime was ordered by the Chief Minister to retrieve important documents from the estate. Kanakaraj, a suspect in the break in case died in an accident in April 2017. The accident was termed as mysterious by many,
Stalin also sought the Central government to provide adequate security to Sayan, Mathew Samuel and Valayar Manoj and their families and said that the DMK will take this matter to the attention of the President and the Governor. “We have asked time for meeting Governor tomorrow and if we get an appointment we will explain the situation to him. If an action is not taken, DMK will approach the court,” he added.
Stalin demanded that Edappadi K Palaniswami must immediately resign. "SIT must be immediately formed and supervised by Madras HC Judge. Investigation must be conducted. The President and the Governor must call Edappadi Palaniswami and seek explanation for these allegations. DMK will take this issue to the President and the Governor. We have asked time for meeting Governor tomorrow and if we get an appointment we will explain the situation to him. If an action is not taken, DMK will approach the court,' he said.