Jayalalithaa says Union Minister Raja threatened Madras HC judge

Chennai, July 2 (ANI): Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday accused Union Communication Minister A. Raja of threatening the Madras High Court Judge R Reghupati.

In a signed statement released to the media the AIADMK chief said, "Though the honourable judge refrained from naming the Union Minister, it does not require any super-human intelligence to conclude that it was none other than A.Raja, who was also involved in telecom scam."

Jayalalithaa's statement came after a day of the stalling of the Tamil Nadu state Assembly by opposition parties who demanded the revelation of the Union minister's name who had threatened the judge. n Monday, Justice Reghupathy alleged that a sitting Union Minister had attempted to influence him to pass an order in favor Dr Krishnamurthy, and his son Sridhar, who are facing a CBI inquiry in a mark sheet forgery scam.

Jayalalithaa demanded the sacking of A Raja from the Union Cabinet, saying this is for the first time that any judge had accused a union minister of threatening him.

Raja the DMK representative in the Union Cabinet, is said to be a close aide of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

Raja denied Jayalalithaa's charges. Union Law Minister M.Veerappa Moily said Wednesday he would verify the case and then comment on it. (ANI)