‘Minister’s dad confessed to taking cash for jobs’

In a document reportedly filed by the Income Tax department to the state government seeking directions for further actions after a series of raids at the properties belonging to the minister in 2017, it has been mentioned that the officials seized Rs 12.96 lakh in brown covers with names of respective candidates and interview call letters for them. 

In Chinnathambi’s statement recorded on April 7, 2017, he admitted that the sum was received from various persons to obtain them jobs. However, C Vijaya Baskar in his statement has stated that he was unaware of the cash received. 

The document also states that in further raids at Vijaya Baskar’s personal assistant J Srinivasan’s house in Valasaravakkam, two incriminating documents were retrieved from his e-mail which has details for money collection to the tune of Rs 20.75 crore from July to November in 2016. The money has been received from various entities related to the Health department.

In the subsequent pages of the document, violation in the mining of minerals from land owned by Vijaya Baskar and one B Kubendran in Thiruvengaivasal village in Illupur taluk has also been stated. 

It mentions that the duo leased out the land to one Subbaiah, who in turn obtained approval from various authorities to operate a quarry. While approved depth for the quarrying at the site was only 43 metres below the ground level, an aerial photogrammetric survey conducted by the valuation cell found out that the land has been dug upto 72 metre and about 25 lakh cubic metre of rough stone has been excavated.

Meanwhile, TNCC president S Thirunavukkarasar on Saturday demanded the chief minister to sack ministers and government officials involved in the Gutkha scam if they don’t step down voluntarily. 

Speaking to media persons in Tiruchy, Thirunavukkarasar said a probe into the bribery allegation had brought out the names of senior ministers as well as police officials. He also criticised the increase in toll plaza fares. 

Asked about the Lok Sabha elections, he said that seat sharing talks with the DMK is yet to happen. He also refused to share information on his constituency.