Dindigul, Nov 6:
Officials from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Friday carried out extensive searches at the residential and business premises of prominent contractor and educational institution owner Rathinam in Dindigul in connection with alleged irregularities in state river sand quarries.
A 20-member vigilance squad led by DVAC Deputy Superintendent of Police Nagaraj, comprising personnel from Dindigul and Theni units, arrived in four police vehicles at Rathinam’s properties along GTN Road. The team conducted simultaneous searches across two residences and his administrative office, deploying portable copiers and scanners to examine financial ledgers, property deeds, and banking transactions.
The searches follow ongoing investigations by the Chennai Special Investigation Team (SIT) and past enforcement actions by central agencies regarding illegal sand extraction across Tiruchy, Pudukkottai, and Dindigul districts. Significantly, Rathinam’s son Venkatesh, formerly a DMK councillor representing Ward 17 in the Dindigul Municipal Corporation, recently resigned from the party and joined the ruling TVK in Chennai.