TN objects to ASG appearing for Velumani
The Tamil Nadu Government on Monday raised vehement objections to senior advocate and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju for representing former AIADMK minister SP Velumani in the corporation tender irregularities case filed by Arappor Iyakkam.
When the matter came before the first bench of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N Mala, state Advocate General R Shunmugasundram took objections to the appearance of Raju representing Velumani.
The AG informed the bench that the Income Tax department had recently raided the premises of Velumani’s associates and it was inappropriate for a person who is the ASG for the Union government to appear for the accused in the corruption case.
However, Velumani’s counsel Raju submitted that he was appearing in the case only after getting due permission from the government.
Assailing his submissions, the AG noted that the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), which has registered the case against Velumani, would write to the central government to withdraw the permission granted to the ASG for representing the accused.