CBI request to prosecute former AIADMK ministers Vijayabaskar, Ramana under legal examination: TN governor

CHENNAI: The Raj Bhavan on Thursday said the CBI’s request for the governor’s sanction to prosecute former AIADMK ministers B V Ramana and C Vijayabaskar are under legal examination. Last year, the CBI sought sanction for prosecuting the ministers in connection with the gutka scam that rocked Tamil Nadu in the AIADMK regime.

The Raj Bhavan issued a press release a day after the state government released a statement quoting the law minister’s letter to the governor, seeking swift action in granting sanction of prosecution of the ministers by investigating agencies – the CBI and the DVAC.

“With respect to B V Ramana alias B Venkat Ramanaa and C Vijayabaskar, the cases have been investigated by the CBI and these are under legal examination,” a Raj Bhavan release said.

The law minister had stated in his letter that the state cabinet forwarded the CBI’s request on September 12, 2022 and complained of ‘unprecedented delay’ by the Raj Bhavan in sanctioning the same. The state government in July last year sanctioned prosecution of nine people, including Ramana and Vijayabaskar following requests from the CBI. The state also communicated to the Centre to grant sanction of prosecution of retired DGPs S George and T K Rajendran under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The governor’s office said that it could not act upon the request for sanction of prosecution by the DVAC against former commercial taxes and registration minister K C Veeramani “due to the fact that the state government has to submit a duly authenticated copy of the investigation report for further action.”

On the DVAC’s request to prosecute former transport minister M R Vijayabaskar, the statement said that the Raj Bhavan had not received any reference or request in respect of the ex-minister from the state government.