The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Thursday conducted searches at the residence of former Tamil Nadu minister YV Velu and 11 others in connection with an alleged corruption case related to road construction work and payments made for projects that were allegedly not implemented.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the case stems from a complaint filed by Arappor Iyakkam coordinator Jayaram Venkatesan. Based on the complaint, the DVAC booked Velu, who was then Minister for Highways and Minor Ports and is currently MLA from Tiruvannamalai, along with several highways department officials and contractors.
The FIR alleges that huge amounts were paid to contractors in various sections of the Highways Department for works that were not executed by March 2022.
According to people familiar with the developments, DVAC received a petition dated April 20, 2022 from Venkatesan demanding action against the former minister.
Those named in the FIR include former Assistant Divisional Engineer of Highways Department R Kannan, former Junior Engineer Boopalan Singh, former Divisional Accountant K Periasamy, former Divisional Engineer RB Sathyabama, and several other officials and contractors.
In his complaint, Venkatesan alleged that officials, contractors and others were involved in misappropriation of public funds without carrying out road works. He claimed that Arappor Iyakkam learned that millions of rupees were paid to contractors in various departments of the state highways department in March 2022 for works that were not carried out.
“This appears to have happened through the connivance of state highways department officials and a select group of contractors. We request you to register an FIR immediately under the Prevention of Corruption Act and conduct a thorough investigation,” Venkatesan said in his complaint.
He also alleged corruption and mismanagement in the use of funds allocated under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Program (CRIDP).
Referring to one case, Venkatesan said that in Tirupur circle of Highways Department’s Construction and Maintenance Wing, payments were allegedly made without corresponding works being carried out.
“At the Tirupur Construction and Maintenance Department of the State Highways Department, we learned that the permissible amount of $4.19 Crores, $Rs 3.23 crore has been paid without any work actually being done.
He also referred to the complaint filed by former AIADMK Minister Mr. Vijayabhaskar on April 5, 2022, following which four officials were suspended.
He said: “It is said that this was based on the report submitted by the supervising engineer to the chief engineer that the payment was made without paving the roads.”
The NGO reported similar alleged violations in other parts of the state and provided supporting materials with its complaint.
Based on the complaint, DVAC said prima facie material indicates that highways department officials and individuals entered into a criminal conspiracy in 2022 and awarded contracts for widening and improving roads, improving ride quality and rebuilding sanitation works at Karur and other places.
According to flight information, works worth approx $Rs 7 crore sanctioned and payments made $It is alleged that Rs 3.23 lakh crore was done on March 25 and 28, 2022, without corresponding work being carried out.
Reacting to the searches, DMK chief and former Prime Minister M K Stalin said Velu is fully cooperating with the investigation.
“DVAC is raiding the residence of South Tiruvannamalai District Party Secretary and former minister EV Velu. He is fully cooperating with it. Fighting this legally, he will prove justice in court,” Stalin said in a social media post.
“History shows that when the motive was political vendetta, no charge has ever been proven in any case filed so far alleging corruption under the DMK regime,” he added.
“The DMK is not a movement that will be subjected to these threats from the ruling government. We will face this too and emerge victorious,” Stalin said.
