Nehru debunks charge of illegal property

TIRUCHY: Former minister and DMK strongman K N Nehru on Wednesday denied owning several houses in the city and dared the government to take over whatever illegal property he had. Describing the charges of amassing wealth through illegal means as “rumours”, he said, “If the government found that I owned houses or property acquired in an illegal manner, it is free to take over them.” “Pamphlets alleging that I own 63 houses in Thillai Nagar in the city were distributed before the elections. I do not own a single house in this area and my office itself is functioning in a rented house,” he asserted. He also denied the charges of involvement in criminal cases and said he was “ready to face the gallows if the charges are proved”. “Have I received a single rupee as bribe from you?” he asked the public.Referring to the accolades being heaped on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for a resolution seeking the declaration of Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a war criminal, he claimed that the DMK too had worked for the welfare of Lankan Tamils. He was, however, mum on what had prevented the DMK from passing a similar resolution.