Madurai: Finding nothing wrong in the appointment of T K Rajendran, as Director General of Police (DGP), Tamil Nadu, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court also issued a direction to the chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan to appoint a vigilance commissioner with independent charge and professional independence to head the State Vigilance Commission to closely monitor the investigation of ‘Gutka’ scam without any political interference.
“The State was correct in its decision selecting and appointing Rajendran as the DGP,” said Justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan on Friday while disposing a writ petition filed by trade unionist K Kathiresan, who had challenged Rajendran's appointment on the ground that he was allegedly involved in the ‘Gutka’ scam that took place during his tenure as Chennai top cop in 2016.
State had appointed Rajendran as DGP on the day of his superannuation on June 30 this year. The judges held that the entries made in the books of ‘Gutka’ manufacturing firms seized by the Income Tax (I-T) department was not sufficient to deny appointment to him. “There should be at least prima facie materials suggesting receipt of illegal gratification by the fifth respondent (Rajendran). Mere entries in the records regarding illegal gratification without any kind of supportive materials would not amount to legal evidence,” observed Justice Sasidharan.
