PMLA case in polytechnics: ED searches 18 spots across Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday carried out searches at 18 locations across Tamil Nadu as part of its investigation into money laundering linked to alleged manipulation of marks in the 2017 recruitment of lecturers for government polytechnic colleges conducted by the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB).

According to ED sources, the searches were conducted at premises linked to the accused in Chennai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore and Madurai. The action follows the registration of a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on an earlier criminal investigation into the recruitment scam.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Chennai Police registered a case after an internal inquiry uncovered alleged irregularities in the lecturer recruitment process conducted by the TRB in 2017.

Investigators found that nearly 200 candidates allegedly paid money to intermediaries to secure lecturer posts in government polytechnic colleges. The inquiry revealed that marks of selected candidates were manipulated, with some candidates allegedly receiving inflated scores of up to 100 marks to improve their rankings and obtain appointments.

Based on the findings, the CCB filed a charge sheet in 2021 against those accused in the case. The trial is currently under way.

The ED officials said the searches were aimed at tracing the money trail linked to the alleged recruitment fraud and identifying assets suspected to have been acquired through the proceeds of crime. Documents, digital records and financial transactions connected to the accused are being examined as part of the investigation.