NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, APR 14
Aiming to cash in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his clean image in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tamil Nadu unit president K Annamalai presented the assets of the top leadership of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) at party headquarters on the occasion of Tamil New Year, Friday, here.
Today’s Press Meet on #DMKFiles
To watch: https://t.co/5k7oVuxR3T
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) April 14, 2023
Sending a veiled threat to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), K Annamalai said that he would not stop at exposing the corruption of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) but would do the same for corrupt leaders in every political party that has ruled Tamil Nadu.
- Will expose corrupt leaders in every party that has ruled Tamil Nadu, says ex-IPS officer
- DMK is becoming a part of a global money laundering business and Chief Minister MK Stalin has taken Rs 200 crore from foreign shell companies: Annamalai
- While Annamalai produced a receipt of purchase by Cheralathan, he gave no proof of payment for his purchase
- I challenge Annamalai to produce documents of DMK-owned schools, and colleges he has mentioned in 15 days: DMK MP RS Bharathi
Further, he said that exposing the corrupt leaders in parties other than the DMK is important because the fight against corruption cannot be selective.
Before starting the presentation, he gave the details of his Rafale watch purchase, which was questioned by Excise and Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji.
According to the trailer of Rs 1.34 Lakh crore ‘DMK Files’ released by BJP, “DMK is becoming a part of a global money laundering business and Chief Minister MK Stalin has taken Rs 200 crore from foreign shell companies.”
The corruption list contains all top DMK leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Durai Murugan, EV Velu, K Ponmudy, V Senthil Balaji, and former Union Minister S Jagathrakshakan.
Taking Chief Minister MK Stalin head on over corruption, Annamalai alleged he was paid a bribe of Rs 200 crore for favouring a company to secure the contract for Chennai Metro Rail ahead of the 2011 assembly elections when DMK was in power. “The payments were paid through shell companies,” he alleged. In the US, he added, “that company was investigated for bribery”.
Explaining the way valuations are done in computing the worth of assets, he also mentioned details of assets many of the DMK leaders had declared in their electoral affidavits.
Annamalai would take questions only after a week, so “journalists could verify”.
On funding his expensive, controversial, Bell and Ross watch, Annamalai claimed he bought it from a friend Cheralathan in May 2021 for three lakh rupees, who he knew for two years then. While he produced a receipt of purchase by Cheralathan, he gave no proof of payment for his purchase. Minister for Power Senthil Balaji had demanded the receipt of this watch a few months ago, which provoked Annamamalai to release details of assets owned by DMK leaders.
“I require seven to eight lakh for expenses every month. I manage with help from friends and the party. My house rent is paid by a friend. Others help with the salary for my staff. You can see my bank statement and credit card statement. It’s a challenge for a first-generation politician like me,” Annamalai said.
Countering Annamalaai’s allegations, DMK MP RS Bharathi said it was “a joke”
“There is not a single allegation of payment of bribe. All candidates he has listed have given their asset details in their affidavits. If there is even one violation, any citizen can challenge the election,” he said.
RS Bharathi challenged the BJP leader to file cases against them to prove Rs 200 crore bribery allegations.
“Annamalai is attempting to divert attention from the Hindenburg report on Adani, and the Arudhra scam,” he said.
On alleged corruption in Chennai metro rail, he asked what the central probe agency CBI was doing since 2014.
“Annamalai’s allegations won’t affect DMK’s prospects, it will only help us win all 40 seats,” he said, and questioned what Annamalai owns “if he gets everything from others”.
“I challenge Annamalai to produce documents of DMK-owned schools, and colleges he has mentioned in 15 days,” Bharathi said
