Chennai: An unverified audio, purportedly of Tamil Nadu finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), has gone viral on social media. Within the audio, which is being shared extensively by the Tamil Nadu functionaries of the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP), PTR appears to be allegedly saying that “each Udhay [Udhayanidhi Stalin, minister and son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam head and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin] and Sabre [V. Sabareesan, the CM’s son-in-law] have realised, they’ve made more cash in a single yr… now it’s stepping into an issue. Find out how to deal with it…”
Although the supply of the audio, which surfaced on social media Wednesday night time, isn’t identified, it has been shared by a number of handles on social media, together with by whistleblower Savukku Shanker.
BJP state president Ok. Annamalai additionally shared the audio on Twitter Thursday, including, “In a dialog with a journalist, TN State Finance Minister reveals that TN CM’s son Udhayanidhi & Son in Regulation Sabareesan have gathered ₹30,000 Crores in a yr. With each passing day, these substantiate the claims made by us in #DMKFiles.”
Only a week again, Annamalai had launched a purported expose, known as the DMK recordsdata, by which he had alleged cash laundering by Sabareesan. Annamalai had additionally demanded particulars of who invested in Udhayanidhi’s movie manufacturing firm, Pink Large Motion pictures. Udhayanidhi can be an actor-producer.
On Wednesday Udhayanidhi hit again with a authorized discover to Annamalai, demanding unconditional apology for the “defamatory remarks”. The discover which was despatched by means of DMK MP and advocate P. Wilson said, “You may have made defamatory allegations figuring out full properly the identical are removed from reality in addition to scandalous and malicious. In such a scenario, you’re liable to be prosecuted in legislation for defamation.” ThePrint has a replica of the discover.
BJP’s state president for sports activities and talent improvement cell, Amar Prasad Reddy, advised ThePrint, nonetheless, that “the defamation circumstances are easy drama”. He additionally requested whether or not Udhayanidhi and Sabareesan would ship defamation notices to Thiaga Rajan, a reference to the leaked audio.
“Everybody is aware of that they’re looting cash and are getting cash left proper and centre and their journeys [foreign trips] are all based mostly on cash laundering. Issues have come into the limelight 1681992049. PTR has immediately accused the CM’s household, son Udhayanidhi and son-in-law Sabareesan,” stated Reddy.
He added, “What now we have quoted within the DMK recordsdata are all in papers, and if an individual like PTR says there may be 30,000 crore then that’s all black cash.” Within the audio PTR seems to say that Udhayanidhi and Sabareesan had made Rs 30,000 crore.
The BJP chief additionally took a dig at Udhayanidhi on Twitter Thursday and posted that the DMK recordsdata had claimed Udhayanidhi’s asset to be price Rs 2,039 crores, “however your Finance Minister [PTR] says it’s 30,000 crores. Sorry @Udhaystalin for quoting low figures for you. Will right our information now.”
Political observers within the state, in the meantime, stated the developments to be watched to find out potential influence.
“If the DMK ignores the leaked file then it should die down by itself. Folks haven’t voted for DMK as a result of it’s an trustworthy celebration. If motion is taken in opposition to PTR, even [something like] altering his portfolio, it should result in the problem being blown out [of proportion],” political analyst Sumanth C. Raman advised ThePrint.
ThePrint reached Thiaga Rajan for touch upon name and textual content messages, however acquired no response until the time of publication of this report.
ThePrint additionally reached a number of different DMK leaders over cellphone, however they refused remark saying that the celebration excessive command was but to problem a response.
Additionally learn: DMK ward councillor held as 6-yr-old sexually assaulted in Tamil Nadu college. CM Stalin vows stringent motion
DMK recordsdata and BJP exposé
On 14 April, the primary day of the Tamil New 12 months, Annamalai launched the primary of the DMK recordsdata, which had purported particulars of alleged property of a number of senior leaders of the celebration. The 15-minute video gave the alleged particulars of property price about Rs 1.34 lakh crore.
Annamalai had additionally said that three extra recordsdata on corruption by political events which ruled the state can be launched earlier than the 2024 parliamentary polls. Although the chief didn’t title any events right here, this is able to suggest not simply the DMK, but in addition the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
The BJP ‘exposé’ drew sharp criticism from DMK organisation secretary R.S. Bharati, who demanded an unconditional apology and Rs 500 crore as compensation from Annamalai, a former police officer. Udhayanidhi too has slapped a discover demanding Rs 50 crore compensation for the “defamatory remarks”, as talked about above.
In the meantime, Annamalai too served a discover to Bharati on grounds of defamation in opposition to him and the BJP. The BJP state president demanded compensation of Rs 501 crore from Bharati if he did not tender an unconditional apology.
In an announcement, Annamalai stated, “R.S. Bharathi additionally positioned an accusation stating that I received Rs 84 crore from Arundhati Finance Firm. As this can be a baseless accusation positioned in opposition to me and the BJP, I demand Rs 500 crore and Re 1 as compensation which I’ll deposit in PM Cares fund.”
Speaking concerning the BJP allegations in opposition to the DMK, Reddy additional stated, “On the subject of DMK it is extremely troublesome to create one single file. It [corruption] is greater than Baahubali [the blockbuster film], [the epics] Ramayana, or Mahabharata and we will file it as an online collection.”
He added that in a padayatra scheduled to be held by the BJP in June, the celebration will convey to the fore the DMK’s the “corruption” within the DMK governance.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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