Replying to the debate on the budget, the CM referred to AIADMK floor leader R Tamaraikani's charge in this regard and said the police had informed him that their enquiries at the UCO Bank and the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Bank branches in Mamsapuram, where Ayesha's parents live, and at 14 branches of nationalised banks in Sivakasi and two branches in Srivilliputhur, revealed that there was no account in her name. The members of Ayesha's family had merely taken farm loans, police said. However, the government would take action if Tamaraikani gave specific information about such a deposit, the CM said.

To another charge that explosives were hidden in a wellin Shenbagathope, the CM said that no explosives were found there. The parapet wall of the well had caved in. However, it did not mean that there were no explosives at all in other wells, Karunanidhi said, adding that the police would continue to carry out checks.

Pointing out that some leaders talked as if unearthing explosives itself was a major crime, he said that the police had carried out investigations even in Kerala where some persons said to be involved in the blasts were arrested. ``If we seize bombs, it is a crime; if we don't, too, it is a crime,'' he said.

Referring to charges made by M Abdul Latheef (INL) and S Thirunavukkarasu (MGR-ADMK), the CM said that it was likely that the police had arrested innocent Muslims in the course of their investigations. IUML State president A K A Abdus Samad had also written a letter with emotional overtones in this connection.

If such cases were brought to his notice, he would ensure that such persons were immediately let off, the CM assured. ``Thisgovernment is not for harassing innocents. It followed the policies laid down by Periyar and Annadurai on protecting the interests of minorities. Our love, support and sympathies are for them.'' Referring to allegations that he participated only in Muslim functions, Karunanidhi said that if invited, he would participate in Hindu functions too. The government believed in secularism.

If the minorities and the majority respected each other, clashes would never arise, he said, adding that a team headed by an IG was conducting an intensive probe into the blasts. Over 40 persons had been arrested so far.

Reiterating that the state government had not ignored information from Central and State intelligence agencies on a possible attack by Muslim fundamentalists, the CM quoted former CM Annadurai who said that some actions took place at lightning speed. Karunanidhi said all district police officials had been instructed to look for explosives in their areas.

However, police officials in Coimbatore had written tothe government denying the presence of explosives in the city. Hence, action had been taken against them.