ED raids for second time at state PWD agent's home in Chennai

Enforcement Department officials on Wednesday, for the second time, conducted a raid on one of the agents involved in supplying materials to the constructions of the state Public Works Department. This is the second time the Central agency has knocked on the doors of the agent within a month's time.

Chennai:Enforcement Department officials on Wednesday, for the second time, conducted a raid at a house in an apartment complex in Purasaiwalkam. It is pertinent to note that the ED officials raided the places related to the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department on November 3, 2023. At that time, the ED officers searched Amit's house in the apartment. Amit works as an agent for supplying electrical equipment for government construction works in the TN PWD.

According to the officials, the rooms, which have already been checked and sealed are being reopened and are being checked. Apart from this, the central agency is conducting further raids in the Purasaiwalkam area and some other places in the state capital. The authorities are yet to reveal whether the investigation is based on an already registered case or is a new investigation.

Sources, the ED officials came in seven vehicles on Wednesday morning and have been carrying out searches at Vepery and Purasaiwalkam. The second visit of the ED officials to the state PWD agent's house in Chennai has raised brows in political circles.

In a separate development, the central agency got the approval of the Madras High Court to probe into the "illegal" sand mining in the state on Tuesday (November 28). The ED said it is in possession of "credible scientific evidence" in its probe.

According to the agency, such evidence established rampant illegal mining in the jurisdiction of district collectors of Ariyalur, Vellore, Thanjavur, Karur and Tiruchirapalli and have issued summons to them.

When the petition came up before a bench comprising justices S S Sundar and Sundar Mohan, a top PWD official, who sought the court to quash the summons, said sand, a minor mineral, is a subject matter under the Constitution over which the state exercises exclusive power. The officials submitted that the central agency was not entitled to enquire and investigate into the subject matter or matter connected therewith. However, the bench allowed the probe, while staying the summons issued to the district collector.

On November 3, TN PWD Minister E V Velu came under the scanner of Central agencies with the Income Tax department conducting raids at 37 places including his residences and educational institutions. Velu is one of the influential ministers under M K Stalin’s cabinet. Velu owns multiple educational institutions, including engineering colleges, in Tiruvannamalai.

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