DVAC, Vijayabaskar’s counsel oppose giving docus to ED

TIRUCHY: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials and the counsel for ex-minister C Vijayabaskar on Thursday opposed handing over the documents, including the charge sheet, in the case to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The DVAC team, which searched as many as 56 locations, including his house and business establishments in Pudukkottai and Chennai, filed a case in 2021 against Vijayabaskar and his wife Ramya under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 for amassing wealth in the form of movable and immovable properties to the tune of Rs 35.79 crore.

The investigation by the team revealed that the former minister had acquired several properties and machinery, including 70 lorries and earthmovers and four luxurious cars, ornaments, and lands in the name of his wife Ramya disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure as a minister.

The 210-page charge sheet was submitted before the court following which Vijayabaskar and his wife Ramya were summoned by the court.

Meanwhile, the ED moved the Pudukkottai Principal District court seeking a copy of the charge sheet in the case. On Thursday, the case came up for hearing before the Principal District Judge K Poorana Jeya Anand and Vijayabaskar and Ramya appeared before the court. The ED appealed to the court to hand over the documents to it. However, the DVAC and the counsel for Vijayabaskar opposed the ED request. After hearing the arguments of all the parties, the judge postponed the hearing to June 12.