Coimbatore, Nov 6:
Tamil Nadu Minister Rajmohan on Friday alleged massive financial misappropriation during the previous DMK regime in the procurement of books for the Periyar Arivulagam Library in Coimbatore.
Addressing reporters, Rajmohan claimed that around 1,800 fraudulent and non-existent books were procured under the guise of purchases from a publishing entity named ‘Agalvilakku Pathippagam’. The minister’s allegations followed serious concerns raised by acclaimed author Perumal Murugan, who highlighted that the publisher and its purported authors were completely unfamiliar in literary circles and accused the outfit of utilizing dubious ISBN credentials.
Targeting the opposition, Rajmohan remarked: “Even in a library bearing the venerable name of Periyar in Coimbatore, corruption took place during DMK rule. A publishing house named Agalvilakku does not exist even on Mars, and I have never heard of those author names.” Thanking the digital literary platform ‘Sinthai’ for bringing the irregularities to light, the minister stated that the entire procurement file would be submitted to Chief Minister Vijay for immediate administrative action.