The DMK, in a detailed complaint, has urged the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), to investigate the enormous assets and wealth acquired by Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. THE WEEK was the first to expose the same, and DMK’s complaint comes right on the heels of a detailed investigative report in the issue dated December 8, 2017.
The DMK’s Rajya Sabha MP and organisation secretary R.S. Bharathi alleged that OPS' act clearly constituted abuse of power. "The deputy chief minister is guilty of acquiring assets disproportionate to his income," he said. Referring to OPS’ declaration before the Election Commission of India (ECI) in his 2014-15 election affidavit—that he had an income of Rs 5.80 lakh—Bharathi said in the same period he had bought a car worth 17.85 lakh, which would be disproportionate. “It is highly improbable considering his total income. His sons Raveendranath Kumar and Jayapradeep too have invested in various companies. The sources of investments remain unexplained. It warrants a detailed investigation,” Bharathi said in the petition.
In his complaint, Bharathi mentioned the assets in the names of OPS, his sons, his wife P. Vijayalakshmi and his daughter Kavitha Bhanu, and alleged that the deputy chief minister amassed wealth using benamis too. Stating that there were strong contradictions in the affidavits submitted before the ECI and the tax returns he filed, Bharathi claimed that “details about many of the assets of OPS’ family were missing.”
This is the second such complaint against OPS. Earlier, an anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam had filed a similar petition with the DVAC. The DMK, being the principal opposition, is not likely to stop with a mere complaint. "If there is no action from the DVAC, we will meet Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and seek appropriate action. Finally, we will file a disproportionate assets case in the court," said Bharathi.