The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday strongly defended its senior leader and Tamil Nadu Minister K. N. Nehru after the Madras High Court directed authorities to register a First Information Report (FIR) against him in connection with an alleged corruption case.Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam, Nehru insisted that he is “innocent” and will prove his innocence in court, asserting that a thorough inquiry had already taken place even before the FIR was filed. “We will approach the court accordingly to establish our innocence. We have not done anything wrong,” he said.
DMK organising secretary R. S. Bharathi joined Nehru in defending the party’s stance, stating that attempts to weaken the DMK through legal action will not succeed. Bharathi emphasised that the matter would be handled through proper legal channels.
Bharathi also alleged that the involvement of central investigative agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the issue was politically motivated, aimed at undermining the growing popularity of Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and the party ahead of elections. She claimed the legal action was intended to distract Nehru from his electoral duties, noting that he is responsible for overseeing 41 constituencies for the DMK.
Bharathi further suggested that the case was initiated at the behest of Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, portraying it as part of political maneuvering rather than a genuine probe.
The high court’s directive came after the ED shared material alleging irregularities in tenders and appointments linked to the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department, prompting the court to order the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a criminal case.
The DMK’s firm rebuttal illustrates the heightened political tensions as Tamil Nadu prepares for elections, with the party pledging to defend its leaders through legal processes while rejecting claims of wrongdoing.