DMK walks out of TN assembly over bribe row

DMK members on Wednesday walked out the Tamil Nadu assembly protesting against the Speaker's decision not to allow a discussion on the alleged bribes paid to a minister and police officials by 'gutka' manufacturers.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin raised the issue of searches conducted by Income Tax officials at the premises of a producer of gutka, a chewing tobacoo.

Speaker P. Dhanapal halted Stalin from speaking further, saying he cannot speak in the house based on news reports. This led to the walkout by the DMK, the main opposition party in the assembly.

The sale of tobacco product 'gutka' is banned in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to reporters outside the house, Stalin said that in July last year IT officials had raided the premises of a 'gutka' maker in Chennai and recovered documents, books and diaries.

He said the books listed the amounts paid to senior police officials and a minister to allow the sale of 'gutka' despite the ban.

According to Stalin, a sum of Rs 40 crore had been paid as bribe to police officials and the minister.

Stalin said the IT department wrote to then Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao 10 months back but no action had been taken.

--IANS

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