Whether Karunanidhi and Kanimozhi, had misappropriated 200 crore in World Classical Tamil Conference.

Whether Karunanidhi and Kanimozhi, had misappropriated 200 crore in World Classical Tamil Conference.

The Madras high court has ordered a vigilance probe into a complaint that former chief minister M Karunanidhi had misappropriated funds meant for the World classical Tamil conference held in Coimbatore in June 2010. Justice R Mala, before whom the petition filed by advocate B Ramesh Babu came up for hearing on Monday16-9-2013, said an expeditious inquiry should be conducted into the allegation and that a case should be registered if commission of any cognizable offence was made out.

According to Ramesh Babu, while the then chief minister Karunanidhi claimed that 380 crore was spent on the conference, a later press release claimed 301 crore had been spent. Information obtained under the RTI Act showed only 151.22 crore had been spent. Another RTI plea revealed that 262.63 crore was spent on the meet. Ramesh Babu claimed that Karunanidhi and his associates, including his daughter Kanimozhi, had misappropriated more than 200 crore.

State public prosecutor S Shanmugavelayutham said that an inquiry has begun.

We can get the true pictures only after Vigilance enquiry. Let us wait.