anant_s
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CHENNAI: Two days after the dramatic pull-out of the DMK from the UPA, a four-member team of the Central Bureau of investigation landed at the residence of DMK treasurer M K Stalin. Sources said the CBI visit to Stalin's house was in connection with an old case of the directorate of revenue intelligence, involving Alex C Joseph, a luxury car smuggler.
While DMK leaders sought to play down the CBI visit to Stalin's house, they are furious with the timing, coming as it does two days after DMK chief M Karunanidhi's announcement of his party's decision to pull out of the Union government and the United Progressive Alliance.
Alex, who was on the DRI's wanted list since 2000, was nabbed by Hyderabad airport immigration staff in November 2011. DRI accused Alex, also known as Abey John, of smuggling more than 400 cars and alleged tax evasion amounting to Rs 500 crore. The CBI alleges that Stalin's son Udayanidhi, a film producer, had purchased one of the cars from Alex and had also been questioned earlier in this connection. DRI had booked a case against Alex and transferred it to the CBI. An investigation is on.
The CBI team had arrived at Stalin's house to inspect Udayanidhi's car and obtain the documents from him. Udayanidhi told the CBI officials that the car was in a work shop and that he would hand over the documents to them.
Cenotaph Road in the heart of Chennai was abuzz with news of CBI raids as the four-member team landed at Stalin's house at 6.30am and remained there until about 8am. In a show of support, more than 300 party functionaries, including former ministers, K N Nehru and K Ponmudy arrived at Stalin's house. Media and members of the public also gathered in the area as the team questioned Udayanidhi. "Stalin was not in the house. Udayanidhi arrived there and spoke to the CBI team," said a family member.
"Udayanidhi is only a witness in the case. The vehicle will be returned to all the 33 people (who purchased the cars from Alex) once the case is over. But the timing of the CBI questioning is suspect," a senior lawyer and a party leader told TOI. Sources said CBI sleuths were at four places, including Stalin's house.
CBI team in Stalin's house, questions his son Udayanidhi - The Times of India
My Views:
Now thats a piece of timing, that even Ganguly would've been proud of.