The order of Madras High Court investigation into tender irregularities in a department headed by Edappadi Palaniswami, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and leader of AIADMK was set aside by the CJI NV Ramana.
In October 2018,the Madras High Court, had ordered a CBI investigation directing it to be completed within three months. A plea was filed in the High Court by R.S. Bharathi, a DMK MP who alleged that Palaniswami had misused his official position to allocate various road construction projects to companies owned by his relatives.
The High Court’s direction to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a case against Palaniswami were sought in the plea. The preliminary reports was rejected by the Madras High Court and a clean chit was given to Palaniswami.
The apex court later stayed the Madras High Court order directing a CBI probe.
On 25th July 2022,the pea was mentioned by the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government before a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India and sought a hearing in the matter. The matter came up for hearing today.
Senior Advocate C. Aryama Sundaram, who appeared for Palaniswami, argued that the order was a culmination of a complaint filed by DMK against him. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for the DMK and submitted that they seek an independent probe.
The bench of Justices Krishna Murari and Justice Hima Kohli, who were part of the bench, said that the High Court should decide whether the probe by an independent agency is required or not. The court set aside the order of the High Court directing a CBI investigation and directed the High court to consider the report of DVAC.