CHENNAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Saturday conducted searches at 19 locations linked to former DMK minister and Leader of the Opposition’s Deputy in the Assembly, KN Nehru, and his brother Ravichandran, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged multi-crore bribery and irregularities in recruitment and tender allocations in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department.
The searches began in the morning and were carried out at locations in Chennai, including Mylapore, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur, Anna Nagar and Abiramapuram. Searches were also conducted at Nehru’s residence and other premises in Thillai Nagar, Tiruchy.
A team of DVAC officials arrived at Nehru’s Thillai Nagar residence in four vehicles. Nehru later reached the residence after learning about the searches. Former minister Anbil Mahesh and other DMK functionaries gathered outside the house, leading to tension in the area.
Reacting to the searches, DMK president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin alleged that the action against Nehru was politically motivated.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Stalin said the searches were being conducted even as a case was pending before the High Court and the Assembly session was underway.
Stalin alleged that the ruling TVK government had resorted to the action for “purely political reasons”. He also accused the government of having allegedly induced legislators from other parties to resign and join the ruling party on the Assembly premises, and alleged that the DVAC had not registered an FIR on complaints relating to the alleged horse-trading.
Stalin further accused the government of using the searches as a diversionary tactic and described them as a continuation of what he termed the “dark side” of Indian democracy.
“Nehru and the party will not be intimidated by such threats from the new government. We will face everything through legal means and emerge victorious,” Stalin said.
The case stems from allegations of irregularities in appointments and tender allocations during Nehru’s tenure as MAWS minister. The Enforcement Directorate had alleged that bribes amounting to several crores were collected in connection with the appointment of 2,538 officials, while also alleging irregularities worth around Rs 1,020 crore in recruitments and tenders.
The Madras High Court, in February, directed the DVAC to register a case based on materials supplied by the ED, observing that they prima facie disclosed cognisable offences.
The DVAC subsequently registered an FIR in June under Section 7(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, naming Nehru, the DMK's principal secretary, his brothers and several officials.
Nehru currently represents the Tiruchirappalli West Assembly constituency and is the DMK's deputy floor leader in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He is also a prominent DMK leader in central Tamil Nadu.
(With Bureau inputs)