Gutkha scam: Plea filed in SC against transfer of case to CBI

An official of Tamil Nadu health department has reportedly appealed to the Supreme Court against the transfer of probe into Gutkha scam to CBI. Sivakumar is a co-accused in the case of Gutkha scam, in which state health minister C Vijayabaskar and top police officials including DGP TK Rajendran were allegedly involved.

While the case was earlier probed by the state’s Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Madras High Court ordered the transfer of the case to CBI based on a petition filed by DMK MLA J Anbazhagan. The petitioner had claimed that DVAC, which has state government officials, cannot conduct a fair probe into the matter. Following the transfer, fisheries minister D Jayakumar had stated that the state government will not appeal against the transfer.