Tender case: HC extends interim-stay to file report against Velumani

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday observed that an interim stay passed by the court to restrain the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) from filing the final report against former Local Administration minister SP Velumani in the tender irregularities case will continue till September 19.

Heading the first bench along with Justice N Mala, Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari passed the direction to the DVAC on hearing the petition preferred by Velumani to quash the two FIRs. The cases were filed by the agency in connection with the alleged irregularities in awarding Chennai and Coimbatore corporation tenders while the AIADMK leader held the portfolio of LA department.

When the matter came before the bench on Friday, Advocate-General (AG) R Shunmugasundaram informed the bench that there is an appeal preferred by the State to bar Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju and to list the criminal original petition to quash the FIRs before the single judge or a division bench of Madras HC having the jurisdiction to hear the criminal cases is pending before the Supreme Court.

According to the AG, the Supreme Court has not passed any orders in the appeal preferred by the state and simply adjourned the matter to September 14. The AG further wanted the bench to adjourn the matter citing the pendency of the appeal before the top court.

Concurring with the arguments of the AG, CJ MN Bhandari posted the matter to September 19 to decide on the quash petitions filed by Velumani. Meanwhile, the court noted that the interim injunction passed against the DVAC to file the final report will continue till the next hearing.

However, senior advocate Raju for Velumani submitted that since the SC did not pass any orders in the appeal of the state, there is no impediment to hearing the case by the HC.

The case is pertaining to the FIR filed by the DVAC on August 9, 2021, against Velumani on charges of awarding tenders of Greater Chennai Corporation and Coimbatore Municipal corporation to the close aides of Velumani which caused a loss to the tune of Rs 811 crore to the State's exchequer between 2014 and 2018.