I am the chief secretary: Rama

DC CORRESPONDENT with agency inputs CHENNAI, DEC. 27 Sacked Tamil Nadu chief secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao on Tuesday claimed he still continues to hold the post, saying no transfer order had been served on him and described the Income Tax raids on his premises here as a “constitutional assault” on the top office.

Rao also denied having any links with arrested sand mining baron Shekher Reddy.

A combative Rao, who claimed the I-T search warrant did not have his name, repeatedly invoked the legacy of former chief minister, the late J. Jayalalithaa, and asked if raids would have occurred had she been alive.

Addressing a packed press conference at his Anna Nagar residence, where the tax men swooped down early morning last week, he said all they could find was `1,12,320 in cash, 40 to 50 sovereigns of gold “on person” of his wife and daughter and 20-25 kg of silver articles, including idols of gods.

No incriminating documents were found from there, he claimed.

“I was under house arrest by CRPF. It is a constitutional assault on the office of Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu. I was Chief Secretary, I am the Chief Secretary. This government has no guts to serve the copy of the transfer order to me. I claim I still am the Chief Secretary appointed by Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (Jayalalithaa)”, he said.

Rao asked if the officials had obtained permission from Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to conduct searches at his office. Sacked chief secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao speaking to the media on Tuesday -PTI