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Police to probe complaint against minister's brother

Principal sessions judge R Bhanumathi today directed the state director general of police to constitute a special police team to investigate the complaint filed by an advocate against Tamil Nadu Health Minister Arcot N Veerasamy that he had misused his position to obtain contracts for his brother to erect advertisement hoardings in the city.

The complainant, Rathinavel, said Veerasamy, his brother Devarajan, owner of Seven Stars Enterprises, and Madras corporation official David Jayaraj had committed offences punishable under Sections 120-b, 168 and 420 of the IPC and Sections 13 (1) (d) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Allowing the complaint, the judge said the high court, in its order dated July 25, 1996,on a batch of writ petitions, had expressed its concern over the haphazard mushrooming of hoardings in the city, spoiling the aesthetic beauty of the metropolis. It had also cautioned the state government that it should act swiftly and remove all unauthorised hoardings.

The judge said if the various allegations made in the complaint were true, it would mean that the direction of the high court had been flouted in various ways. Besides, specific instances of abuse of power had also been pointed out in the complaint.

She said evidence had to be collected to substantiate the allegations made in the complaint. Only a fair and thorough investigation would reveal the correctness or otherwise of the charges.

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