Ex V-Cs, top official under DVAC scanner

Former vice chancellors, M Rajaram (Anna University) and P Vanangamudi (Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University), came under the radar following allegations that they indulged in corruption while in office. 

In a communication, the DVAC said it has registered case against Rajaram and six others for suspected corruption in the recruitment of Anna University teaching faculties during his tenure as vice chancellor between 2013 and 16. Its officers conducted searches at seven places in Chennai and Theni linked to Rajaram and seized 65 property documents worth about Rs 20 crore during the searches. The case is under investigation, said an officer. 

The case registered against Vanangamudi and five others came after allegations that Vanangamudi had entered into a conspiracy with the other accused to violate the accepted procedure in admissions under 15 per cent NRI quota during his tenure as the vice chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University in Chennai. 

“A massive search was conducted at six locations in and around Chennai, and 74 documents related to properties worth Rs 95 lakh were seized,” the directorate said in a statement. 

Meanwhile at Tiruchy, the officers raided Additional Transport Commissioner P Muruganandam’s home, and seized 223 sovereigns and Rs 90,000 in cash. 

Muruganandam, who has been serving as the Additional Commissioner (Administration), was accused of amassing wealth using his influence. It was the DVAC Chennai that registered the case and instructed the team in Tiruchy to conduct the searches. 

Following this, a team from Tiruchy first searched the official’s ancestral home in Aravakurichi in Karur. As they did not find anything there, another search was conducted, this time at his house at Mannarpuram in Tiruchy in the evening. The team seized gold and cash, and sought documents from the official and family, residing in Chennai, to prove the ownership of the assets.