The Hindu : 'Conspiracy in purchase of TANSI property'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 05, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

'Conspiracy in purchase of TANSI property'

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI Sept. 4. ``Conspiracy'' in the purchase of TANSI property by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, started when the then Government decided to float a tender for the sale of the property rather than sell it to the Tamil Nadu Sugar Federation, argued counsel for a DMK lawyer in the Supreme Court during the hearing of the TANSI appeals.

Continuing his arguments, senior counsel, T.R. Andhyarujina (for appellant, the DMK lawyer, R.S. Bharathi) drew the attention of the Bench, comprising Justice S. Rajendra Babu and Justice P. Venkatarama Reddi, to a meeting convened by Ms. Jayalalithaa on October 14, 1991 with senior officials and it was decided to sell 3.26 acres of the TANSI property to another Government-owned company — the Tamil Nadu Sugar Federation.

But, counsel said, without any authority a tender was floated on November 21, 1991 without indicating the extent of land and without mentioning the ``minimum upset price''.

He said the tender was intended to facilitate the participation of Jaya Publications of which Ms. Jayalalithaa was a partner and the conspiracy to purchase the property by her firm commenced at this point.

Counsel said that Jaya Publications quoted Rs. 3.01 lakhs per ground and this offer was accepted and the TANSI's proposal to sell the property to the firm was sent to the Government.

However, the Industries Secretary made a note on the file that the offer was much lower than the guideline value of Rs. 7.3 lakhs.

She marked it to the Minister for Rural Industries (Mohd. Asif, one of the accused in the case, since deceased), the Finance Minister and the Chief Minister but Asif cancelled the markings. Counsel also submitted that as per a Government Order any purchase over the value of Rs. 1 crore should have the approval of the Chief Minister but Asif masked the file from the purview of the Chief Minister.

He will continue his arguments tomorrow.

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