Chennai: Cracking the whip on former AIADMK ministers facing corruption charges, the DVAC launched a massive search operation simultaneously at 60 places belonging to SP Velumani, the then minister for Local Administration, his relatives and close associates on Tuesday. A four-time MLA, the ex-minister was also quizzed by the vigilance sleuths since the morning at the MLA hostel, where he was staying, in the city.
He is the second AIADMK heavyweight from western Tamil Nadu, the Kongu region, to face raids and searches for disproportionate wealth and corruption. Last fortnight, the DVAC had carried out similar raids on residences and business establishments of former Transport Minister, MR Vijayabhaskar, his extended family and close associates.
Bringing the corrupt to book was an important poll promise and campaign plank of the DMK. Prior to the assembly poll in May this year, the party had submitted to the Governor a long list of corruption charges against the AIADMK government and its ministers, including Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his Deputy, O Panneerselvam. Prominent others in the memoranda were, former Health Minister S Vijayabhaskar and Velumani.
Interestingly, the DMK government of MK Stalin has chosen to start cracking the whip from the Kongu region, which remains a stronghold of the AIADMK. Both the DMK and the BJP are focused on the region.
Read: DVAC sleuths raid former TN minister SP Velumani's residence
Following the completion of a preliminary inquiry, the DVAC registered the FIR against Velumani, his brother Anbarasan and 15 others, charging the former minister with awarding tenders and civic work contracts of the Chennai and Coimbatore City Corporations, to the firms of his brother and close associates in violation of norms and established procedures. The award of tenders worth Rs 464.02 crore in Chennai Corporation, and Rs 364.81 cr in Coimbatore establish a clear case of favouritism, reads the FIR. What is more striking is the fact that all the firms which have secured over 47 contracts have submitted their tender documents from the same computer with the same IP address at one go and have used the same mobile number. All the firms are either linked to Velumani or his brother or his close associates, the DVAC has said.
This fraudulent cornering of tenders was first unearthed by the anti-corruption NGO, Arappor Iyakkam.
In the last five years, the NGO had filed 11 complaints with the DVAC on financial irregularities. It was instrumental in the Union Government canceling the Rs 1950 cr Bharat Net tender for laying optical fibre cables for all village panchayats in the state due to restrictive and discriminatory procedures. The present case followed the NGO and DMK MP, RS Bharathi, approaching the High Court seeking a probe. Earlier, the court had rejected the DVAC's closure report.
In a statement, DVAC said the searches have yielded seizure of Rs 13, 08, 500 cash and recovery of documents for investment of Rs 2 Cr, incriminating documents related to the case and records pertaining to the Corporations besides hard disks. After a marathon questioning since the morning, Velumani was let off in the evening.
The AIADMK cried foul and described the search operation as a vindictive act. Condemning the raids, EPS and OPS, in a joint statement, said “Instead of carrying out a witch hunt, the government should focus its attention on people's welfare. The AIADMK will face cases foisted on former ministers. Even before unearthing any evidence and ascertaining the truth, painting one as corrupt is unacceptable.”
But, who next is the question that appears to exercise many in the AIADMK.
Read: Man alleges ex-TN Minister cheated him of Rs 1.2 Cr, files case
