T.N. backs down, drops cases against Ministers

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, JULY 3. Trying to avoid a confrontation with the Centre, the Tamil Nadu Government today dropped the cases against the two Union Ministers, Mr. Murasoli Maran, and Mr. T.R. Baalu, who were taken into custody during the course of the arrest of the former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi.

In what looked like a climbdown, the Government announced that the charges against the two Ministers were withdrawn ``considering the need to maintain cordial relationship with the Government of India.''

At the same time, it assured the State police that ``due care will be taken to protect their interests.'' Therefore, the police should ``continue to discharge their duty conscientiously as always without fear or favour.''

An official press statement pointed out that with the permission of the court the State Government had ordered the release of the two Ministers on July 2 as the investigating officer felt their continued detention was not necessary.

``However, for reasons best known to themselves, Mr. Maran has refused to come out of the hospital and Mr. Baalu out of the prison,'' it said.

``The police guard at the hospital was removed and Mr. Maran was informed that he was free to go, but he chose to remain in hospital. Similarly, Mr. Baalu was informed by the Prison Superintendent that he was free to go out. When he refused, the District Collector met him and informed him about his release, but he refused to come out of the prison.''

The Centre's feelings that the detention of the two Ministers, even if under specific charges, was undermining its cordial relationship with the State under the federal set-up were communicated informally to the State. ``While the Government of Tamil Nadu reiterates that the charging of the Central Ministers was for explicit offences committed by them, considering the need to maintain cordial relationship with the Government of India and out of deference to the views expressed by the Government of India and more specifically the Prime Minister, the Tamil Nadu Government has decided to drop the cases against the two Central Ministers,'' the statement said.

On being released, Mr. Baalu said: ``The atrocities committed by the State police against myself and Mr. Maran would be taken to the Privileges Committee of the Lok Sabha.''

The arrests were an attempt to destroy the DMK. The cases against Mr. Karunanidhi, like the cases against him and Mr. Maran, were ``foisted'', he said. The release of the Ministers was a victory for the DMK, he added.

Mr. Maran, who remained in hospital today, was yet to receive the formal order of the dropping of charges against him. As the remand period was due to expire tonight, Mr. Maran would, in any case, be deemed to have been freed tomorrow, his counsel, Mr. R. Shanmughasundaram, told reporters.

The delay in Mr. Maran getting the formal order was attributed to four cases registered against him in different police stations.

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