May 15, 2008: Tamilnadu Social Welfare Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna on Wednesday sent her resignation to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi following allegation that she had acted in favour of one her relatives facing corruption charges.

Announcing this in the State Assembly, Karunanidhi said he had not decided on what to do with her resignation. The Chief Minister also said that he felt ashamed that one of his Ministerial colleauges had attempted to bail out her relative.

It is to be noted that Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Monday released audio CDs of a telephonic conversation between Poongothai Aladi Aruna and Director of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (DVAC) Upadhyaya.

He alleged that the Minister had asked the DVAC to return to the Tamilnadu Electricity Board (TNEB) the investigation against her relative Jawahar, a TNEB assistant engineer, currently under suspension on corruption charges.

Chennaivision Team