The team reportedly asked Jayalalitha, Peter Alphonse and Jagaveerapandian, to substantiate the allegations made by them that the DMK Government in order to bring disrepute to minority communities, had planted the bombs which were later seized from parts of the State.

The CB-CID team, which entered Poes Garden at 3.30 p.m. for the task, was led by DIG K Muthukaruppan and other members of the team included CB-CID SP K Thukkaiyandi, Narcotics Division SP Srilakshmi Prasad and CB-CID Metro Additional SP Pitchaiambalam. The interrogation lasted for about 15 minutes.

The CB-CID team refused to divulge the details of theinterrogation to waiting media persons and left the place after saying that they would apprise the court about the inquiry.

Earlier, the CB-CID team that arrived at the Poes Garden bungalow at 3.25 p.m. was kept waiting for about five minutes as the gates of the bungalow were opened to them only at 3.30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Jayalalitha in a statement to the media defended her earlier charge that the planting and seizure of explosives was only a drama enacted by the State Government by saying that she has every right under the freedom of expression guaranteed by Art.19 (1) of the Constitution.

She said the Government cannot deny the individual rights accorded by the Constitution by sending summons like the one sent by the CB-CID. According to Jayalalitha, the CB-CID in its summons stated that she would be interrogated as a witness on June 7 as per Rule No.160 of the Indian Penal Code as the CB-CID averred that she was aware of the details relating to three cases filed in connection with the bombseizures.

Terming the act of serving of summons to her as an example for the `fascist, vindictive tendency' of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, she said she expressed her opinion to media persons that the Government was behind the seizure of bombs based on the information obtained from various sources and about the doubts raised by the general public over the seizures.

Saying that the summons served by the CB-CID to her is aimed at preventing her from fighting for the welfare of the minority communities, she declared that she is not apprehensive of facing any kind of inquiry.

Jayalalitha's counsel Jothi was present during the interrogation. The team also quizzed Alphonse and Jagaveerrapandian at their party offices. During the interrogation, the police posed five queries to the poltical leaders, officials said, adding that their responses would be furnished to the Court.

Pudhiya Tamilagam leader K Krishnasamy is away in Delhi and will be quizzed after his return to Chennai, officials said.