Chennai, Oct. 24:
The Congress high command has replaced Ranjan Kumar as chairman of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee’s Scheduled Caste department and appointed R Senthamil Selvan in his place, amid renewed political attention on the cases involving granite businessman R Veeramani.
The appointment was announced in a press release issued on Friday by All India Congress Committee general secretary K C Venugopal. The party, however, did not state any specific reason for the change or link the decision to the ongoing investigation into the allegations against Veeramani.
The organisational change has drawn attention because Ranjan Kumar had earlier raised allegations concerning the handling of complaints against Veeramani. Kumar had said that he lodged a complaint in 2024 and alleged that the city police failed to act on it. He also claimed that he had provided video evidence relating to the allegations.
Kumar has faced allegations of attempting to extort Veeramani, which he has denied. He has maintained that he acted as a whistleblower by bringing the matter to the attention of the authorities.
The case has triggered wider questions about the handling of complaints and the response of the police machinery. The Tamil Nadu government has initiated changes involving police officials amid allegations of inaction, while a Special Investigation Team is probing the cases against Veeramani.
The Congress leadership has not publicly explained whether the latest organisational decision is connected to the controversy. Senthamil Selvan will take charge of the Scheduled Caste department with immediate effect, according to the party announcement.