Gutka scam: Vijayabaskar says it is political vendetta

DMK described the CBI searches at the residences of Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar and DGP T K Rajendran a "shame" on the state and along with other opposition parties, demanded they be sacked, even as the minister termed it as political vendetta and vowed to come clean facing the matter legally and politically.

The ruling AIADMK, however, dismissed opposition calls for resignation or sacking of Vijayabaskar, saying Wednesday's raids were a 'routine' affair done under court direction and that anyone is 'innocent' before law till proven guilty.

The CBI carried out searches at around 40 locations in Tamil Nadu, including at the residences of Vijayabaskar and Rajendran in connection with the Gutka scam.

Vijayabaskar, in a statement, said that since the raids were carried out by CBI on a court direction following a plea by DMK, he was ready to extend full cooperation to any probe as a "law-abiding citizen."
Demanding resignation of both Vijayabaskar and the state police chief, DMK President M K Stalin, in a statement, said, "The searches have brought shame on the state... Vijayabaskar continuing in the cabinet and Rajendran as the head of the police department will turn out to be a blot against people's rule and for the force, known for its honesty."
Responding to opposition criticism, senior AIADMK leader and fisheries minister D Jayakumar said the central agency had carried out searches as per a court direction and that such things were done 'routinely.'