Is the police ditching Amma ?

It was Jayalilathaa's promise to the people of Madurai...to bring to book many culprits who had wreaked havoc in Tamil Nadu. Be it the henchmen of M K Alagiri or the ruling party MLAs who indulged in ‘Katta Panchayats’ and ran a government of their own. Also Jayalalitha’s victory in the assembly polls was based on people’s desire to throw away the DMK government.

Even as the DMK was crying foul terming it as political vendetta...Understanding the clear mandate, Jayalalitha promptly instructed the police to go after the goons and book cases against them without fear or favour.   Many DMK bigwigs who were ruling the roost in Madurai using the name of Union Cabinet Minister MK.Alagiri were not only put behind bars but were also detained under the preventive detention law.


This action by the State police not only rattled the DMK's Madurai Strongman M K Alagiri but also the entire DMK machinery...Despite being humiliated by the Congress again and again the DMK did not dare to snap ties...the reason M K Alagiri was opposing the idea of pulling out from the UPA...as his Union Cabinet post will become a casualty and he will land in Palayankottai prison. 

This being the ground reality...now doubts are raised whether the police is going soft on accused which had ultimately paved way for the detainees to walk out of prison.  Almost all the henchmen of Alagiri’s detention orders have been quashed by the Courts on the grounds of technical flaws.    The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and the Madras High Court had quashed the detention orders against Pottu Suresh, Attack Pandi, Essar Gopi, VK.Gurusamy, Ocha Balu and Kudamurutti Arumugham.   The main ground for quashing the detention order was that the authorities failed to dispose of the representations from the concerned against the detention order ‘within time’.  

However, its not new for the police officials to make a weak case...In the infamous Gold Quest scam, which saw lakhs of innocent depositors cheated to the tune of several crores the Crime Branch CID of the state police detained the Managing Director of the firm Pushpam Appalam Naidu under the GOONDAS act.  But the Madras High Court quashed the detention order merely on the ground that ‘the grounds of detention was served after a week’s delay’.  Allegations were made at that time that the CB.CID police had made this flaw deliberately after receiving kickbacks.

Whispers doing in political circles of TN is that a similar pattern is being followed in the cases of Alagiri’s henchmen. The hand in glove attitude is out in the open and whispers are doing the rounds whether the police have a hand in creating a weak case for detention deliberately.    As earlier as 2002, at the time of quashing the detention order of a notorious rowdy Ayothikuppam Veeramani, a Division Bench comprising Justice Jayasimmha Babu and E.Padmanabhan had pointed out about the complicity of the police with the accused.

The Bench while quashing the detention order against Veeramani observed, “ The rationale for preventive detention is the need to protect society from persons whose conduct is inimical to the country's safety or society's welfare and the urgency of the need to take prompt action against them without having to wait for the normal procedures of the person being brought to trial and, thereafter, in case of conviction being incarcerated. The duty to protect the country and the society casts an obligation on the State to ensure that whenever it exercises power of preventive detention, it exercises the same with due care and that the exercise conforms to other requirements of law. Omission to do so would be an instance of the State failing in its duty to protect the country and the society.

Even in cases where the authorities concerned have acted with utmost good faith and with the greatest possible efficiency in clamping an order of detention against a person who fully deserves it, such an order could nevertheless, be set naught by the acts of omission and commission on the part of the State's functionaries as has happened in this case. Repeated instances of such acts of omission and commission which have come to our notice in numerous cases, make us wonder as to whether such omissions are bona fide, or have been made to help the very persons against whom the order of detention is clamped.

The State would be failing in it's duty if it fails to take steps to ascertain the cause for such lapses and take action against those who commit these lapses at whatever level. The State cannot be a silent spectator and merely close the eyes by not taking steps to ascertain the cause for the lapses pointed out by the Court and taking appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such lapses.

The lapse that we have pointed out in this order is a very elementary one and should not have happened at all. The detenue in this case is one who is conversant with Tamil and not with English. This is not a solitary case where the detenue knows only Tamil and not English. The majority of the detenues seem to be persons who do not know English and who are only conversant with Tamil. The State, therefore, should be fully alive to the need to communicate to the detenue the detention order and the grounds accurately in Tamil, and to ensure that the order so communicated fully complies with the requirements of law. The errors of translation or omission to translate, which we have found in this case are mistakes, which the State should not have permitted to occur.

Effective remedial measures must be taken by the State to prevent recurrence of such errors. The State should also cause enquiry to be made as to how such lapses have occurred, and if it finds after enquiry, that there has in fact been a lack of due diligence on the part of those who are concerned, or deliberate omission actuated by mala fide intentions, the State should initiate appropriate action. Failure to do so would be a failure to protect the public from the very persons whose activity is considered by the State to be inimical to public welfare, and whose detention is considered by the State itself to be necessary.

We, therefore, direct that a copy of this order be sent to the Chief Secretary of the State, the Home Secretary, as also to the Director General of Police and to the Police Commissioners of the Metropolitan cities who are empowered to make detention orders, so that they will take necessary steps to prevent a situation like the one that we had to deal in this case and also take appropriate action immediately after the reasons for which the orders of detention are set aside by the Courts, are made known to them.”

Attack Pandi

What had happened in 2002 has only seems to be repeating this time in the case of Alagiri’s henchmen.   Every detainee would be given an opportunity to represent before the detaining authority and the Home Secretary to make representations against his detention.   The concerned authorities should dispose of the representations based on their merit before the Review Board reviews the detenue’s detention.  

In the case of Alagiri’s henchmen, it appears that the representations were not disposed off in time, which ultimately paved the way for Alagiri’s men walk free from prison. Whether the police are ditching Amma and are acting in unison with DMK people for reasons best known to them remains a mystery.

So what happens to Amma's biggest election promise to clean up Madurai and other parts of the State???

Martin Luther Kings in Tamil Nadu Cabinet?

‘I have a dream’ thundered Martin Luther King from the steps of Lincoln Memorial advocating equality for blacks in the US in 1963.   It appears that many Ministers in Tamil Nadu are also having a dream perhaps of a different kind...of becoming the Chief Minister of the State. The buzz in the ministerial circles is that  many of them are almost convinced that Jayalalitha will be convicted in the assets case.  Based on this assessment TN Ministers are having high dreams to become Amma's successor. 

 

Though AIADMK is a party that claims to be an offspring of the atheist Dravidar Kazhagam and that follows the principles of Anna, at present the AIADMK is a party that is known for its superstitions and belief in astrology.  And the latest one in the AIADMK camp to openly come out with his superstitions appears to be the Power Minister Natham Viswanathan who is reportedly to be the top dreamer..  Whispers doing rounds in the Ministerial circles is that Natham Viswanathan has been told by an astrologer that his stars would take him to the post of ‘Chief Minister’. 

Natham Viswanathan who now seems to be completely carried away and consumed by his dreams of Chief Minister post is giving a red carpet welcome and VIP treatment to whoever says that he will become CM. 

   
Natham Viswanathan is praying all his gods and spending his time in temples and shrines to fulfill his dream, say sources in Fort St George. Corporate sharks have found the word ‘you will become Chief Minister’ as the only mantra with Natham Viswanathan who holds a crucial portfolio in Amma's cabinet to get their things done.  Natham Viswanahtan however is keen on filling his coffers ahead of the Chief Minister race, if any. Sources in Electricity Board say, Natham Viswanathan is all set to give a tough competition to his predecessor Arcot N.Veerasamy in making money.   While the state is witnessing severe power crisis Natham Viswanathan appears to be determined to take his share of the booty from TNEB. 

Though the AIADMK has made a huge fuss about corruption in the import of coal during DMK regime, now the AIADMK government too is following the same line drawn by the DMK as far as coal import is concerned, say TNEB insiders.   

Senthil Balaji.

Besides Natham Viswanathan Ministers like Kamaraj, Velumani, Senthil Balaji and Vaithiyalingam are also nurturing their dreams for the hot seat say AIADMK.  In the present cabinet people from a powerful community of the Kongu region are given prominence.   Based on this Ministers belonging to the Kongu belt also are dreaming to strike gold.  While Vaithiyalingam and Kamaraj depend on the support of Sasikala and Diwakaran, Velumani and Senthil Balaji pin their hope on the importance given to their community in the present cabinet.  Whispers also doing the rounds is Senthil Balaji fully enjoys the support of Sasikala’s aide Ilavarasi’s and her daughter... he strongly believes that he could be a leading contender for the hot seat. 

But Natham Viswanathan and other’s  dreams depends on the outcome of the assets case in Bengaluru which has reached its crucial stage. Till then Natham Viswanathan and others can only increase the decibel on their rhetoric… I have a dream…  to become the Chief Minister after a Coup d'état.

IAS, IPS: Many heads to roll

Many heads in the IPS and IAS are expected to roll after Amma’s return from Bengaluru.  Amma has left for Bengaluru to answer the questions in the assets case’ today.   The buzz in the Khakhi circles is that much whispered transfer orders were only a disappointment as only 5 transfers were issued.   The orders saw luck favouring Nallasivam again as he has again been made as the Joint Commissioner Intelligence for Chennai City.    Nallasivam was transferred out of JC, Intelligence post only recently.   Tirunelveli Commissioner of Police Varadarajulu who was aspiring to become JC.IS failed to please the right power centers.    But, following these transfer orders many more are to come is the whispers in the power corridors.  

Fort St George sources also say many IAS officers are also likely to be transferred and a massive search has been launched in the corridors of power. On the other hand hectic lobbying is going on at all levels for plum posts in the AIADMK regime. Many officers in Madurai have spent at least 10 lakh ruppes to get posts where they can earn double the amount. Sources say it’s a powerful lobby that is working for paid transfers and postings of lower level officers. In one such case M K Alagiri’s close confidant who was Madurai PRO has managed to pull the right strings…and has landed in Fort St George right under the nose of Chief Minister. 

Jaya TV official asked to go on leave


Sources tell whispers that K.P.Sunil, Vice President (news) in Jaya TV has been asked to go on leave.  Sunil's leave was a result of Jayalalitha's ire.   Jayalalitha who is a strong believer in astrology had fixed 3.15 pm as the exact time for the relay of her televised address regarding price hike.   But the Jaya TV people fumbled the telecast and the relay got stuck within minutes of its commencement.    The whole address had to be telecast again which started a little after 3.30 pm.    Missing the auspicious time, Jayalalitha believes that the resentment of the public is due to missing the auspicious time (!!!!).   Sources say that she vented her anger on Sunil and had asked him to go on leave, following which Sunil has proceeded on a month's leave.

DVAC team gears up for the climax

The DVAC team headed by its IG AMS Gunaseelan had left Chennai early yesterday for Bengaluru to receive Amma ahead of her visit.   The investigating officer Sambandham left by road yesterday afternoon.  Jayalalitha had answered 560 out of the 1400 questions prepared for her by the Special Judge Mallikurjaniah.    The Supreme Court had recently directed the Special Judge to finish the questioning sessions preferably within two days.   The questioning session is likely to continue tomorrow too which is making the DVAC officials nervous…as it will spoil Amma’s mood. However, Jaya is aware that today the media focus will be on Chidambaram as the BJP is up in arms against him demanding his resignation in the parliament. 

Desperate search for counsel

Kanimozhi is desperately searching for a counsel to defend her in the 2G trial say sources.   Rasathi Ammal and Kanimozhi who are not satisfied with the present counsel want some one who could effectively rescue Kanimozhi out of the mess.  But, legal brains are running for cover and are not willing to take up the case say Delhi sources.  The advocates who are well aware of the mood of the Judiciary particularly in the 2G case…is reluctant.  A senior correspondent from an English Daily who is very close to Karunanidhi and known to many TN politicians is also in the search for finding out the right advocate to bail out Kani.

Kani catches cold,Trial heats up

The winter is slowly beginning in Delhi…and for  Kanimozhi who grew up in Chennai and who is not accustomed to Delhi climate, has caught fever, severe cold and is suffering in Tihar.   Hearing about their half sister’s discomfiture MK.Alagiri and MK.Stalin rushed to Delhi to meet Kani and consoled her and conveyed their father’s message that he is making all efforts to bring her out.   The brother’s reportedly conveyed to Kani that they both have absolutely no objection to her given any prominence in the party.  (Keeping in mind that her difficulties are not going to end anytime soon) But whether the brother’s word of solace has given any comfort to Kanimozhi is doubtful given the brothers’ track record in the past. DMK sources say this visit by both the brothers is nothing but just to show that "All is well" in the family and the party.