Sadiq Basha death will be investigated

Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced that after the elections he would order a comprehensive probe into the death of Sadiq Basha, a close aide of DMK senior A Raja allegedly involved in the 2-G scam.

This seems to be a tit-for-tat as DMK president M K Stalin has been repeatedly saying in his poll rallies that he would order probe into the death of Jayalalithaa and the Kodanad estate's break-in and deaths when he comes to power, which he insists would happen soon after the present poll crowns Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister and there would be change of government in Tamil Nadu thereafter.

As the poll date, April 18, draws closer in this fiercely fought election, the campaign speeches and statements from all the major contestants are setting new standards in pungent abuse.

CM Palaniswami during his electioneering in Namakkal region expressed anguish that Stalin was getting more abusive by each passing day. "He called me KD, called me earthworm. He should know that I hail from a village and if I open my mouth to retaliate, his (Stalin) eardrums would blow up", said the CM looking visibly angry.

Dark clouds seem to be gathering over Stalin vis-à-vis the Sadiq Basha death since CM Palaniswami's threat to order fresh probe gets huge backing from Basha's wife S Rehabanu, who has been alleging that he was murdered and the death made to appear like suicide by hanging inside their Teynampet house in Chennai. The death happened soon after Basha, summoned by the CBI probing the 2-G case, told the investigators that DMK president MK Stalin had met Shahid Balva, one of the accused.  

And on Wednesday, she dashed off a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind repeating her charge and pleading for a fresh probe into Basha's death in the light of an attack on her car on March 19 after she released an advertisement in Tamil media in memory of her husband on his eighth death anniversary on March 16. The advertisement in Tamil conveyed that 'undesirable friendship leads to harmful consequences'.

Ms Rehabanu said swords and stones were used for the attack on her car and she escaped unhurt only because her brother "kept driving at high speed". She also said she had reported the attack to the State Home Secretary and Chennai Police Commissioner, who gave her police security.

"If the authorities investigate the recent attack on me, they will be able to identify the political forces behind my husband's death. More specifically, they should reinvestigate the statements given by my husband during the course of investigation (of 2-G scam) and identify who all he spoke about, including MK Stalin and A Raja", said Basha's wife.

Seen against the backdrop of CM's announcement of probe into Basha's death, this fresh missile from Rehabanu appears to be setting up the armoury for the big assault on the DMK chief and perhaps his close confidant A Raja, contesting the Ooty Lok Sabha seat.