After HC order, Stalin asks CM to quit or divest Home portfolio

CHENNAI: Leader of Opposition MK Stalin on Tuesday asked Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to immediately resign for deliberately trying to cover up the truth in Sathankulam double death case and failing to control a police station under him. Stalin asked the CM to at least divest home portfolio to someone else, if he does not intend to demit office.

Listing out the submissions made in the report by Kovilpatti Magistrate – I and subsequent suo motu order passed by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, which held that there was prima facie evident to book a murder case (section 302 of IPC), Stalin said the contents of the order passed by the HC should put the CM holding home portfolio to hang his head in shame.

Wondering how one could believe that a constable had threatened a magistrate deputed by the HC, Stalin sought to know if any person could be threatened due to stress.

Refusing to believe that intimidation of the magistrate, denial of evidence and tampering of evidence was decided at ASP and DSP level, Stalin said that it was impossible to believe that all that had happened without the knowledge of the CM in a suo motu case tried by the HC.

“The Chief Minister, who had failed to administer a police station under him and attempted to cover up two murders in police custody, has lost the moral right to continue in the post. Hence, I urge the CM to immediately tender his resignation. If he does not intend to demit office, at least he should divest home portfolio to someone else and arrest cops responsible for the murder under section 302 of IPC, as was directed by the HC and book others who helped cover it up,” Stalin said.

Wondering if the CM had attributed “respiratory distress” as reason for the duo’s death to cover up the bloody mess at the police station and project it as a death in judicial custody, the DMK president said the government has shunted out the district SP, ASP, DSP and suspended the constable only after the court took suo motu notice and not do render justice to the family of Jayaraj and Bennix.

Remarking that the HC order instructing revenue officials to take control of Sathankulam police station was a blot on the state police department, Stalin said the statement of the Chief Minister attributing death to illness only signifies that he had colluded with the police to cover up the murder.

Also referring to the appointment of Murugan as south IG and Jayakumar as Thoothukudi SP, he cited the controversies involving them and said that it was worrisome that the CM had no intention to appoint honest officers to inspire confidence among

people.