DMK Organising Secretary R S Bharathi announced on Wednesday his intention to file a fresh petition against Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) in the highway tender irregularities case. This decision will be executed following the Vikravandi by-poll.
Addressing the media, Bharathi accused EPS of misrepresenting facts regarding the case. He noted that the Madras High Court, while acquitting Palaniswami, had permitted further proceedings in the matter. “We were also intent on proceeding with the case. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary poll was notified. Like Jayalalithaa who made statements and got entrapped in the TANSI case, Palaniswami has also spoken,” Bharathi remarked.
Bharathi emphasized that there is still time to move the court and confirmed his plans to file the case in consultation with Chief Minister M K Stalin and senior advocate N R after the by-poll. “EPS can dare, but he cannot escape the law,” he asserted.
Bharathi condemned EPS for suggesting that the Chief Minister was ill-informed about the case, insisting that EPS must provide evidence and avoid misrepresentation. “He (EPS) must speak with evidence. He must not lie. He spoke as if the court acquitted him as innocent in the highway tender case. He must have spoken to the media without covering up facts,” Bharathi stated.
Explaining the withdrawal of his earlier petition, Bharathi clarified that it was based on the premise that two investigations were not needed for the same case. He added that although he withdrew the petition, the Supreme Court had disposed of the case by ruling that the lower court was free to try and decide on the matter.
This development marks a significant turn in the ongoing political and legal battle between the DMK and AIADMK, with implications for the political landscape in Tamil Nadu.