Swamy seeks guv okay to prosecute Karunanidhi

NEW DELHI: Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy on Monday met Tamil Nadu governor SS Barnala and sought permission to prosecute Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in an alleged case of corruption. Swamy said the chief minister should be held responsible for his government's misuse of a quota that allows it to give homes and plots at low prices to deserving candidates, largely to those who engage in social service, and do not own any home in the state.

This is the second time that Swamy has sought sanction to prosecute a chief minister of the state. He had previously sought sanction to prosecute then CM Jayalalithaa in the TN Small Industries land scam. Swamy, who handed over the petition to Barnala, said: "Karunanidhi has violated every rule and has exceeded his authority. The allotments made have to be cancelled and the chief minister has to be prosecuted.

I have enough evidence and will never spell a word without having sufficient proof." He said Karunanidhi had misused power to allot land to people close to him. "The allotment by the CM was in violation of Section 11 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Karunanidhi must resign and face prosecution." To a question on whether he had received the legal notice sent by Karunanidhi, he said: "If I receive a legal notice from him, I would throw it in the wastepaper basket."

Karunanidhi sent a legal notice to Swamy on Sunday asking him to retract his statement in which Swamy named Karunanidhi as accused along with Raja in the 2G spectrum case. When asked whether his party would join hands to form an alliance with AIADMK for the upcoming assembly elections, he said: "Why should I go for an alliance. If people want, let them come and talk."