Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday questioned when the DMK began speaking about the Governor’s powers, during a hearing on a petition seeking to quash a criminal case.
The Central Crime Branch, Chennai, has registered a case against B.T. Arasakumar—DMK communications wing deputy head and president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association—along with former minister Mahesh and others. Police allege that money running into crores was collected from private school managements across the State by promising permanent recognition and other statutory approvals.
Mahesh has moved the High Court seeking to quash the FIR. When the matter came up before Justice V. Lakshmi Narayanan, the police filed their counter affidavit.
Counsel for the former minister argued that the case was registered with the approval of a government department secretary, without obtaining the Governor’s consent. The judge then asked when the DMK started invoking the Governor’s powers, recalling that the party had earlier compared the Governor’s post to a “goat’s beard” and called it unnecessary.
The court also asked when a plea for anticipatory bail would be filed. Mahesh’s side said it would be filed on Tuesday and sought an adjournment of the quash petition hearing. Accepting the request, the judge posted the case to October 29.
