Gutka scam: Tamil Nadu sanctions CBI to prosecute nine including two former AIADMK ministers

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned prosecution of nine people, including two former ministers -- B V Ramana and C Vijayabaskar -- in connection with a gutka scam case. This follows the requests from Central Bureau of Investigation.
It has also addressed to the Union government to accord sanction of prosecution of retired DGPs S George and T K Rajendran under the Prevention of Corruption Act, sources said.
“Chief minister M K Stalin accorded sanction on July 19,” said an official source. The police officers were former commissioners of Chennai city police and retired in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The Union ministry of home affairs is the competent authority to sanction prosecution on the retired officers.
The seven others are former deputy commissioner (enforcement), commercial tax department, V S Kurinjiselvan, former commercial tax officer of Manali assessment circle, Commercial Taxes department, S Ganesan, former designated officer of the food safety department, Lakshmi Narayanan, former food safety officer of Gummidipoondi block, Tiruvallur, P Murugan, former assistant commissioner of police of Puzhal range, R Mannar Mannan, former inspector of police of Red Hills police station, V Sampath, and former councillor/chairman of the health committee, Chennai Corporation, A Palani.
The government has also sanctioned prosecution of Murugan for the commission of offence punishable under sections 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC.
The move follows the investigation report forwarded by the CBI on collection of illegal gratification from the suppliers of maava/gutka against the accused people for the commission of offences under Section 120B of the IPC read with 7, 11, 12, 13 (20) read with 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The state government had earlier sought the opinion of the public prosecutor of the Madras high court as to whether it was a fit case for according sanction of prosecution by the CBI.
In his opinion dated July 14, the public prosecutor stated that the materials available on record disclosed a prima facie case for launching prosecution against Ramana, Vijayabaskar and ten others. There is also material for launching prosecution against Murugan for commission of offences under IPC.
“The public prosecutor has finally opined that it is a fit case for according sanction of prosecution against B V Ramana, Vijayabaskar and ten others and to accord necessary sanction as sought for by the investigative agency,” an official source said.