Won't restrain NGO from raising allegations against Velumani: HC

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha, before whom the plea came up for hearing, adjourned it to the second week of August after the organisation sought time to file additional papers in the case.

When the senior counsel appearing for the Minister sought the court to restrain Arappor Iyakkam from making any comments on the Minister regarding the case, the bench refused.

During the previous hearing, the issue of the NGO giving a letter to the Registrar (Judicial) with a request that the hearing be continued before Justice Sathyanarayanan as he had heard the matter substantially was raised. When informed that the government had decided to drop a corruption probe despite the pending plea at the High Court, Justice Sathyanarayanan had directed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to continue inquiry into the alleged tender violations.

However, based on the High Court rule that all matters partly heard would get released from the list of the judge concerned on change of roster and ought to be listed before the portfolio judge, the division bench resumed hearing the case on Wednesday.

The NGO had alleged brazen violations of tender laws and rules, including tender rigging, collusion and cartelisation of contractors, and gross misuse of powers by the Greater Chennai Corporation officials in awarding tenders for bus route and storm water drain projects in the city in 2018.