Poll Panel Steps In To Allow Launch Of Book On Rafale Deal

Team that tried to stop event in Chennai taken off duty.

A few hours after an election flying squad in Chennai served a letter banning the release of a book on the Rafale fighter aircraft scam, the publishing house managed to launch the book by obtaining the nod from the Election Commission of India.

Sources in the Commission later said the members of the flying squad that conducted the raid had been relieved from duty and issued a show cause notice.

A new team has been constituted as part of the flying squad, they added.

The book Nattai Ulukkum Rafale Bera Oozhal (The Rafale scam that is rocking the country), by social activist S. Vijayan was brought out by Tamil publishing house Bharathi Puttakalayam. The price tag of the slender volume is 10.

On Tuesday morning, the election flying squad, led by S. Ganesh, assistant executive engineer, Thousand Lights constituency, reached the publishing house on Elango Street, along with the local police inspector. He told publisher Nagarajan that the book release function and the sale of the book could not be permitted under the model code of conduct.

He also served on Mr. Nagarajan a handwritten letter banning the book's release and sale. In spite of opposition from the publisher and other staff, police personnel and other officials seized all copies of the book.