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 and illegal financial transactions.
The searches covered Nehru’s residence in Thillai Nagar, Tiruchirappalli, and a house in Mylapore, Chennai. A residence of his brother in Abiramapuram was also searched. Other locations in Mylapore, R A Puram and Alwarpet were among the premises covered by the vigilance officials.
According to reports, the searches are 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 are under investigation and have not been established by a court.
The latest searches come after the DVAC registered a case against Nehru in June in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitments, tender allocation and other activities in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department during his tenure as minister.
The earlier case followed directions from the Madras High Court to register an FIR over allegations relating to recruitment in the department. The Enforcement Directorate had reportedly alleged large-scale irregularities involving appointments and tender processes, including allegations of bribes totalling Rs 634 crore in the appointment of 2,538 engineers and officials.
The ED had also alleged irregularities amounting to nearly Rs 1,020 crore involving illegal recruitments, alleged tender manipulation and criminal conspiracy. The allegations are part of an ongoing investigation.