Releasing a long list of corruption charges and allegations against the top leaders of the DMK, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai alleged that thesee leaders own assets worth Rs.1.34 lakh crore. The former IPS officer, on Friday, released the first part of what he called the “DMK files” and said he will expose the corruption of all political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the BJP’s ally AIADMK.
“We have released only the first part now. There is more to come,” Annamalai said while releasing a 15-minute long video with family trees and graphics, aided by some background music. Annamalai’s idea of exposing the DMK began a few months ago when Electricity Minister V. Senthil Balaji sought to know how can Annamalai afford the Bell & Ross limited edition Rafale watch that he was wearing.
During the press conference on Friday, Annamalai, who refused to take questions, said the watch was a hand-me-down, purchased from an individual by the name Cheralathan in Coimbatore on May 27, 2021.
Later, releasing the DMK files, Annamalai alleged that “the DMK is becoming part of money laundering business worldwide.”
Targeting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his family specifically, Annamalai alleged that Stalin took a bribe of Rs 200 crore in the run-up to the 2011 elections for favouring a private firm, Alstom, for sanctioning the Chennai-Metro Rail Corporation (CMRL) contract.
He said the tender issued by the DMK government was tweaked to favour Alstom. Alleging that Alstom was investigated for bribery in the US, Annamalai said the payments were made through shell companies for the CMRL project then. “I will write to the CBI regarding this, asking for an enquiry. I will be the complainant,” Annamalai said.
Annamalai also accused Stalin and his son-in-law Sabareesan Vedamurthy of money laundering. He alleged that Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi were part of a firm called Noble Steels Private Limited which has now signed a MoU with the Tamil Nadu industries department for a project. “The MoU was signed when the chief minister went to Dubai to invite investments,” Annamalai alleged.
Annamalai wanted to know why Sabareesan is engaged in business with people who are accused of money laundering, and how the worth of Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Pictures, grew from Rs 300 crore to Rs 2,010 crore in 2023.
However, Annamalai’s expose would not stop just with the DMK. He said there are many more parts to the video released on Friday and the list of parties includes the AIADMK as well. The former IPS officer’s statement about releasing the asset details of the AIADMK top leaders assumes significance amid reports that he wants to shun AIADMK from the NDA. His allegations will only further expose the differences in the NDA in Tamil Nadu.
During the hour-long press conference, Annamalai refused to take questions from the media saying he will answer all questions after seven days. Nonetheless, Annamalai’s expose was not backed by solid evidence for it to stand in any court of law.
DMK’s reaction
Reacting to Annamalai’s allegations, DMK Rajya Sabha MP R.S. Bharathi called it a “drama” and a “joke” and asked him to come out with proof for his allegations within 15 days. He said as the organising secretary of the DMK, he would move the court against the allegations made against the party as a whole.
“As far as individuals against whom allegations were levelled, they can take the legal route as per their wish. But he had said that DMK owns schools and colleges. I will go to the court if he doesn’t furnish proof for this within 15 days,” Bharathi said.