HC nod For corruption probe against former AIADMK Minister

Madras High Court has issued a directive to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to expedite its investigation into the alleged involvement of former AIADMK minister R Kamaraj in a Rs 350 crore civil supply procurement scam. The order was passed by Justice A D Jagadish Chandira in response to a plea filed by V Pugazhendi, a supporter of O Panneerselvam. According to the petitioner, Kamaraj stands accused of swindling approximately ₹350 crore by manipulating the procurement prices of food items intended for public distribution. The complaint, filed by Pugazhendi in 2018, alleged that Kamaraj inflated the prices during the procurement process. Expressing dissatisfaction with the delayed response from the DVAC, Pugazhendi moved the court seeking a direction for swift action. The court took cognizance of the plea and directed the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation promptly. The petitioner’s complaint, which was submitted to the DVAC in 2018, seemingly went unanswered until 2022 when the agency informed Pugazhendi that a detailed inquiry was underway. The delay prompted the petitioner to seek judicial intervention for a more expeditious resolution to the case. In response to the court’s directive, the state informed that the DVAC is actively engaged in a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations against Kamaraj. The state justified the prolonged investigation period by pointing out the extensive nature of the case, involving over 25,000 pages of records related to 48 tenders. @@@