Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Over a month before the CBI raids at the homes of M K Stalin and M K Alagiri on Thursday,Chennai-based officials of the agency had obtained their director Ranjit Sinhas approval to seize imported vehicles owned by Alagiri and Stalins son Udayanidhi.
The CBI suspected that vehicles belonging to Alagiri and Udayanidhi were among a batch of 33 vehicles,some of which had been brought into India and sold in violation of import duty rules.
The agency has said that while the director knew that a raid was imminent,he had not been told the precise date.
Internal documents show CBI had completed a verification of the suspect vehicles when it sought the approval of headquarters. On February 11,additional director R K Dutta said,Verification has revealed that some imported vehicles were being used by prominent persons like Udaya Nidhi,son of M K Stalin and grandson of M Karunanidhi and Shri Alagiri,son of Karunanidhi8230; the information being sensitive,the investigation report is being submitted for orders of head office8230;
The note also sought clearance to register a case against DRI officials and vehicle importer Alex Joseph: After registration of the case all such vehicles,including those used by Udaya Nidhi,Shri Alagiri and other persons,would be checked and if it is confirmed that the vehicles under use by Shri Udaya Nidhi,Shri Alagiri and others have violated Customs rules/provisions,these will be seized8230;
The CBI director approved the proposal the following day.
The agency has described Thursdays search-and-seizure operation as successful,having seized a few vehicles outside the original list as well. They,however,returned empty-handed from the homes of Stalin and Alagiri.
In the case of Stalin,CBI said the vehicle was not available in their house and the team returned without any search; for Alagiri,it said that the team8230; returned without conducting a search as no car was available in the farmhouse8230;
