Decision on extension for MDMA by October

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. The Centre today said it would review the work of the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) set up to probe further the recommendations of the Jain Commission of Inquiry, by October and decide on extension of its term beyond December.

Replying to a short-notice question by Congress-I members, Mr. Arjun Singh and Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, said the Centre would provide all assistance to the Agency.

Mr. Advani said the Government was keen that the MDMA probe reached a conclusion but said it would not be appropriate to disclose details when the probe was still on. He said the investigations were going on in the right direction.

The Home Minister also confirmed that the MDMA was conducting investigations against the former Tamil Nadu Minister, Mrs Subbulakshmi Jagadesan and Mr. Kasi Anandan.

Asked if it was true that the MDMA had requested for Letters Rogatory to be sent to a number of countries, Mr Advani said the monitoring agency had proposed that such letters be sent to all countries where further investigations were required to be conducted.

To a question if the Tamil Nadu Government had asked the MDMA to vacate the Malligai Housing Complex in Chennai from where the agency was functioning, the Home Minister said the State Government had earlier permitted the CBI (MDMA) to occupy the building till September 10, which has since been extended to March 10, 2001.

Replying to supplementaries, Mr Advani said the Government had so far not received any complaint of non- cooperation from the MDMA.

The MDMA which is functioning under the CBI was constituted in December, 1998 and started its work after obtaining permission from the designated court at Chennai in June last year.

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Section  : National
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