The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has submitted before the Madras High Court that the Tamil Nadu government is reluctant to hand over the investigation into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in order to protect DMK party members allegedly involved in the crime.
In the ongoing case, petitioners filed Public Interest Litigations (PILs) demanding a CBI probe into the incident. The arguments were presented before the first division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice PB Balaji.
BJP’s legal representative, Advocate Elephant Rajendran, contended that the hooch tragedy could not have occurred without the collusion of local politicians and police officers, particularly in the sourcing of methanol used in the production of the illicit liquor. Rajendran cited multiple Supreme Court judgments, arguing that any suspicion of involvement by vested interests should prompt an immediate transfer of the investigation to the CBI.
Senior counsel NL Rajah, who appeared for the PMK, wondered if the police investigation is on the right track as claimed by the State. He questioned why nine officers including the Kallakurichi Superintendent of Police were suspended.
This one fact is sufficient to transfer the investigation from the State police to the CBI or special investigation team, he added.
After the submissions, the bench posted the matter to September 12 for the State’s reply.
A batch of petitions moved by AIADMK advocate IS Inbadurai, PMK advocate K Balu, AIADMK former MLA A Sridharan, BJP advocate Mohandas and DMDK former legislator Parthasarathy seeking to transfer the probe from the State agency to CBI for speedy and fair investigation are before the HC.