Chennai: Months after it carried out a detailed search in many places linked to AIADMK senior leader and former Minister S P Velumani, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) today once again brought him under its scanned.
Starting this morning, as many as 58 properties linked to Velumani were being searched, sources said and added this is in connection with corruption charges against him.
‘The raids started today morning and the outcome will be known only later,’ sources said.
Today’s action comes exactly a month after a special court for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act ordered the attachment of fixed deposits of over Rs 110 crore allegedly belonging to Velumani, which were in the name of firms of his associates.
The order was passed after the DVAC told the court that the ill-gotten money were invested in fixed deposits in banks and it is required that these accounts be frozen to avoid liquidation of funds held in the bank accounts before completion of investigation in the case.
In his submission to the court, the agency said, ‘These fixed deposits were made only after 2017. These are suspected to be part of crime proceeds, alleged to have been committed by the former minister and his associates in awarding and execution of contracts in Chennai and Coimbatore corporations.’
Following this, Special Judge J Omprakash passed an interim order of attachment of the fixed deposits and directed that notice be issued to the companies concerned.
Velumani was the Minister of Municipal Administration, Rural Development, and Implementation of Special Programmes in the AIADMK government led by Edappadi K Palaniswami until early last year.