Chennai, Sept 5:
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Saturday conducted searches at 19 locations linked to former DMK minister K N Nehru and his brother in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli as part of its investigation into alleged corruption, undisclosed financial transactions and irregularities during Nehruās tenure in the Tamil Nadu government.
The searches, which began in the morning, covered residential and other premises associated with the former minister and his family. Officials were examining documents and other material that could provide further leads in the ongoing investigation.
Among the premises searched was Nehruās residence at Thillai Nagar in Tiruchirappalli. In Chennai, DVAC teams searched a house in Mylapore and a residence belonging to his brother in Abiramapuram.
Other locations in Mylapore, R A Puram and Alwarpet were also covered by the vigilance teams. Multiple teams were deployed simultaneously at the locations as part of the operation.
Officials were understood to be examining financial records, documents and other material relevant to the allegations under investigation.
The latest searches are reportedly linked to allegations concerning illegal financial transactions involving party funds. There are also allegations that money was collected from or through various companies by exerting pressure on them.
The allegations remain part of an ongoing investigation and have not been established by a court. The searches are intended to help investigators verify the allegations and establish the financial trail, if any.
The latest DVAC action comes after the agency registered a case against Nehru in June in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment, tender allocation and other activities in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department during his tenure as minister.
The case followed directions from the Madras High Court to register an FIR over allegations concerning recruitment in the department.
Investigators are examining allegations relating to the recruitment of officials and engineers as well as the award of tenders during the period under scrutiny.
The earlier proceedings followed allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of large-scale irregularities in appointments and tender processes.
The allegations included claims of bribes totalling around Rs 634 crore in connection with the appointment of 2,538 engineers and officials.
The ED had also alleged irregularities amounting to nearly Rs 1,020 crore, involving alleged illegal recruitments, manipulation of tender processes and criminal conspiracy.
These allegations are also subject to investigation and legal proceedings, and the accused are entitled to due process.
The 19-location searches represent a significant escalation in the vigilance investigation involving the former minister. The documents and other materials recovered during the searches could be examined to determine whether they support the allegations already under investigation.
DVAC officials are expected to scrutinise the financial and administrative records seized during the operation and establish whether there were violations of law in recruitment, tendering or financial transactions.
The latest action is likely to intensify the political debate in Tamil Nadu, with the ruling and Opposition parties expected to trade charges over corruption allegations and the functioning of the previous government.
The investigation is continuing, and further action will depend on the evidence gathered during the searches and the findings of the vigilance authorities.