 "CBI raids Stalin's house")
However, the agency refuted claims that the raid at Stalin’s house was a case of political vendetta.
“The CBI wishes to clarify that the operation was strictly in accordance with procedures and there was no intention whatsoever to target any particular individual,” it said in a press statement.
However, sources revealed the First Information Report (FIR) was registered on March 20, a day after the DMK decided to pull out from the Cabinet over the Sri Lankan issue.
The CBI has named a senior official of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Muruganandan and Alex C Joseph, an importer of cars, in its FIR for criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery which caused a loss of Rs 48 crore to the exchequer.
Karunanidhi on support withdrawal and Centre
Chief M Karunanidhi today justified his party's decision to withdraw support to UPA government on Sri Lankan Tamil issue but refused to term the Centre’s stand a “betrayal”. “By looking at the present developments, I consider we have taken the right decision (withdrawal of support to UPA). I will not call it as a betrayal. (But) They were not concerned,” he told reporters, hours after the resolution was adopted by a 25-13 margin at the UNHRC.
Noting that he was "not satisfied" with India's stand at the UNHRC, Karunanidhi said a myth was created about the US resolution that something big will come out and there was a lot of anticipation among the people and students. They were hoping that the US resolution would protect Tamils but it turned out to be a "diluted" resolution and had become 'useless'. Asked about his party's further course of action on the issue, Karunanidhi said Tamil Eelam Supporters organisation (TESO), revived by him recently, will decide. To a question, whether his party would support a parliamentary resolution incorporating the amendments suggested by him, he said "now there was no room for such a thing". Karunanidhi said his party described the US resolution as "diluted" as whatever amendments suggested by him were not incorporated. Referring to India's permanent representative Dilip Sinha's statement that India would encourage Sri Lanka to take steps on the rehabilitation and political settlement, Karunanidhi said this amounted to handing over the issue of Eelam Tamils to the island nation.
Of the 33 cars, the CBI has found and seized 17 after a series of searches in 18 locations in Chennai.
The investigative agency is yet to find the Hummer, imported in 2007 and bought in the name of Stalin’s son. All the cars which are under the CBI scanner, were imported through the Chennai Port between 2007 and 2011.
CBI sleuths seized seven illegally imported cars from R Venkatchalam, chancellor of Sri Ram Chandra Medical College, two vehicles from the MGM group and eight other cars from residents of Chennai including Sri Johnson, G K Settiramana and one Raja Shankar.
The CBI said that Joseph would violate import provision to procure luxury cars and then sell them to private parties. Joseph was arrested ten years ago for a similar offence. The CBI also alleged that Muruganandan, the senior intelligence officer of DRI did not take any action even after identification of vehicles at the premises of certain users.
The CBI has also registered a case against Muruganandan for abusing his official position to give and take pecuniary benefits.
The investigative agency is continuing the searches of the remaining 16 cars.