Industrialist AC Muthiah on Friday resigned as the member of Tamil Nadu Planning Commission. It is learnt that Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is the chairman of the Planning Commission, accepted the resignation with immediate effect.
The resignation follows the Union Government terminating the services of Muthiah as the Honorary Consul to the Government of Belgium.A probe by the Belgium Government is reported to have revealed many irregularities and misappropriations in the functioning of Muthiah as the honorary consul. The Government of Belgium had intimated the findings to the ministry of external affairs, Government of India.
A statement issued by Anu George, IAS, a joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi on July 22 said: “I am directed to inform that the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi has terminated the appointment of A C Muthiah as its honorary consul of the Kingdom of Belgium in Chennai”. Though sources in Secretariat said the CM has accepted the resignation of Muthiah, no official statement has been issued in this regard. The website of State Planning Commission still features Muthaih’s name as member (industry). Muthiah is the first cousin of union finance minister P Chidambaram and chairman of the Rs 5000 crore SPIC Group.