In a recent development, the confrontation between the governor and the state government of Tamil Nadu further intensified as Law Minister S Regupathy labeled Governor R N Ravi’s response to his letter as untrue. The governor had been asked to expedite the granting of permission to prosecute former AIADMK ministers, a request which he allegedly delayed.
Regupathy claimed that until he wrote to the governor, no letter had been received from him seeking any details or explanations about the files. He questioned why the governor was quick to demand the dismissal of Minister V Senthil Balaji but was holding up the sanction in corruption cases and making baseless excuses.
Responding to the governor’s office’s statement that they could not act on the request for prosecution sanction without a duly authenticated copy of the investigation report, Regupathy denounced it as inappropriate. He argued that the governor’s office had received the final investigation report 298 days ago and had even acknowledged its receipt, so claiming that the report was unavailable was unfounded.
Regarding the request to prosecute former transport minister M R Vijayabaskar, the Raj Bhavan (the official residence of the governor) stated that they had not received any reference or request. Regupathy vehemently disputed this, stating that the original file containing the final investigation report of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and the recommendation of the Vigilance Commission had been sent to the governor on May 15 with an acknowledgment letter.
Accusing the governor of abandoning his constitutional duties and engaging in political work, Regupathy expressed uncertainty over whether the governor’s office was under the control of the governor. In an effort to expedite the prosecution sanction against the AIADMK ministers, the law minister wrote another letter to the governor on Thursday, enclosing a reminder from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) dated June 30. The reminder sought sanction to prosecute B V Ramana and C Vijayabaskar in the Gutka scam.
The Raj Bhavan retorted that the CBI’s request for the governor’s sanction was still under legal examination. Last year, the CBI had sought permission to prosecute the ministers involved in the gutka scam that caused uproar in Tamil Nadu during the AIADMK regime.
As the clash between the governor and the state government escalates, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold. The delay in granting prosecution sanction to former AIADMK ministers has led to growing tensions between the two factions. The law minister’s accusation of the governor’s office shirking its responsibilities and engaging in political activities has raised eyebrows. It is a matter of public concern whether the governor’s office will take swift action and grant the necessary approvals or continue to face allegations of inefficiency.
