Rs 570 crore seizure: DMK welcomes CBI inquiry

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday welcomed preliminary enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigating (CBI) into the alleged seizure of Rs 570 crore cash ahead the Tamil Nadu Assembly election and said that it is good of the investigative agency to commence a probe as the ruling dispensation would have never instigated a fair inquiry.

DMK Spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said that the whole matter is perplexing and as the money was transferred during the elections time the matter needs to be investigated.

"It is a welcome move that the CBI has initiated a preliminary enquiry in to this 570 crore issue. Because it is perplexing the way money was transferred and it is unbelievable that the money belongs to the SBI. Because we know if even 1000 rupees is credited extra in to our accounts how the bank managers turn things upside down to get that credit back," said Annadurai.

"When Rs 570 crore is being caught and is flashed all over the media none of them claimed it for 18 long hours, so all this creates a large amount of suspicion. And if such huge sum is transferred during election time it has to be inquired and definitely we cannot expect a fair inquiry by the present government, that why our leaders have sought a CBI enquiry and we welcome the move," he added.

The CBI on Monday registered a preliminary enquiry into the matter.

The matter was handed over to the CBI on the directions of Madras High Court.

According to reports, it is alleged that around midnight of May 13, 2016, Election Commission Surveillance team stationed at Tirupur seized three tanker lorries with Rs 570 crore in cash.

The seizure made three ahead May 16, 2016 when Tamil Nadu was scheduled to go for polls.

The DMK has alleged that the seized cash was hawala money.