In what can be seen as a bid to curb freedom of speech in Tamil Nadu, the Law Minister of the ruling DMK, S Regupathy, along with DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson, issued warnings about taking legal action against individuals associating DMK and its leaders with a drug trafficking cartel. They emphasized that their party has no connections to the apprehended international drug smuggler Jaffer Sadiq.
Addressing reporters from DMK HQ Arivalayam on 10 March 2024, DMK Law Minister Regupathy asserted that the BJP government is employing the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to tarnish the DMK regime, following alleged misuse of the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax department, and Central Bureau of Investigation. He highlighted the DMK’s swift actions against drug peddling since assuming office in 2021, lauded by the courts, and accused the Centre of attempting to intimidate the DMK through the NCB.
Regupathy criticized NCB Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh for prematurely holding a press conference on Jaffer Sadiq’s arrest, alleging a deliberate attempt to damage the DMK’s reputation for political gain. He noted the people of Tamil Nadu’s awareness of such tactics, drawing parallels to past scandals involving the AIADMK regime.
Regupathy emphasized the lack of action on the gutkha case during the AIADMK era, contrasting it with the current urgency to support the BJP-led Centre. Regarding Sadiq’s recent arrest, he questioned the NCB’s delay, pointing out Sadiq’s public appearance in an event on February 21. Responding to Sadiq’s party membership, Regupathy explained the challenges of verifying every member’s background but emphasized the DMK’s swift expulsion of wrongdoers. He underscored that Sadiq’s expulsion occurred promptly after the drug trafficking allegations surfaced.
Regupathy accused the BJP regime of making a wrong calculation to malign the DMK before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and stressed the DMK’s lack of association with Sadiq. He criticized the BJP’s attempts to portray Tamil Nadu as a drug-tainted state, asserting that drug trafficking is nonexistent in the state. Regupathy condemned the NCB’s press conference, stating that making claims about a case before completion of the investigation goes against the law. Lastly, he clarified that the DMK did not receive any financial contributions from Sadiq.
DMK Rajya Sabha MP Wilson spoke after him expressed dissatisfaction with the unjust criticism directed at the DMK and its leaders regarding the Jaffer Sadiq and drug smuggling issue. He said that the NCB deputy director’s decision to hold a press conference during the early stages of the investigation, especially during an election period, raised suspicions defamation. He issued a warning, stating that if such baseless allegations are made against the party or its leaders, the DMK will actively pursue both civil and criminal cases.
Wilson further emphasized that Jaffer Sadiq was expelled from the party promptly upon receiving information, and questioned whether the same swift action was taken against Vijayabaskar, who faces charges in the Gutka case. Wilson pointed out that even the Governor initially denied permission for the investigation, and it was only after approaching the Supreme Court that permission was granted to probe both Vijayabaskar and Ramana. He underscored that the DMK has taken significant measures to combat drug-related issues, asserting that no other party has demonstrated similar commitment to eradicating drugs.
தொடர்பு படுத்தினால் நடவடிக்கை! #DMK | #ZafarSadiq | #MPWilson
https://t.co/y4W3uzOWeZ pic.twitter.com/Don3Kg0wqC
— Dinamalar (@dinamalarweb) March 10, 2024
Jaffer Sadiq, a Tamil film producer and former Deputy Organiser for the Chennai West NRI Wing of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has been identified as the leader of a drug cartel involved in shipping Pseudoephedrine from India to Australia and New Zealand. Affiliated with the DMK, Sadiq was expelled from the party on 25 February 2024, after his connection to the cartel was revealed. The case unfolded when New Zealand and Australia alerted Indian agencies about significant drug smuggling disguised as food products. A joint operation by the NCB and the Special Cell of Delhi Police resulted in the seizure of 50 kg of Pseudoephedrine in Delhi, exposing an international drug trafficking network. Further investigations revealed that Sadiq masterminded the ring, orchestrating the transportation of over 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine worth ₹2,000 crore in the international market over the past three years.
On 9 March 2024, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) announced the arrest of Jaffer Sadiq, the mastermind behind the India-Australia-New Zealand drug trafficking network currently investigation.
Furthermore, while Jaffer Sadiq was on the run, significant drug busts took place in Tamil Nadu on an unprecedented scale, marking a notable departure from previous occurrences.
Gujarat Coast Drug Seizure Operation & Links To Tamil Nadu
- Investigations revealed that the intercepted contraband of 3300 kgs off the Gujarat coast was meant for delivery to Indian nationals in Tamil Nadu.
- Smugglers, alleged to be fishermen, carried nets and rations; three claimed Iranian nationality, and two asserted Pakistani origin.
- A team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) personnel dispatched to Tamil Nadu to establish links and investigate the potential involvement of broader drug trafficking network in the region.
Railway Drug Smuggling In Madurai
- A startling revelation of drug smuggling through railways occurred in Madurai.
- Acting on intelligence, officials targeted Pilliman Prakash on the Pothigai Express train from Chennai to Sengottai.
- A raid at Madurai railway station resulted in the seizure of 30 kg of methamphetamine from Pilliman Prakash.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) & DRI Operation In Mandapam
- On 5 March 2024, ICG and DRI successfully thwarted a drug smuggling attempt near Mandapam, Ramanathapuram district.
- Four individuals were detained, and narcotics valued at ₹108 crore were confiscated.
In addition to the aforementioned report, journalists covering the NCB investigations related to Jaffer Sadiq and his associates experienced a violent incident. The reporters, who were documenting the developments, were physically restrained, beaten. The assault occurred at the Sahara Express courier office, which is owned by Chitrarasu, also a DMK’s West Chennai secretary.
While these incidents unfolded in Tamil Nadu, and the implicated individuals were members of the DMK, the party maintained a conspicuous silence, refraining from any public statements. Even in cases like the assault on journalists, the initiation of actions against the DMK functionary only occurred after severe criticism from opposition figures, including TN BJP President K Annamalai and ADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami. Against this backdrop of continued silence, the Law Minister and DMK’s legal advisor have now issued a warning, stating their intention to initiate criminal and civil defamation suits.
(With inputs from ZeeNews & DeccanHerald)
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