Tiruchi: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) conducted fresh searches at premises linked to former Tamil Nadu minister K.N. Nehru on Thursday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in government recruitment.
Officials searched Nehru’s residences in Tiruchirappalli and Chennai, along with other properties linked to him. DMK workers and supporters gathered outside his Tiruchirappalli residence after news of the searches spread.
The investigation centres on allegations that around ₹634 crore was collected as bribes for appointments to 2,538 posts in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department during the previous DMK government. Nehru headed the department during that period.
According to material submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), candidates were allegedly asked to pay between ₹25 lakh and ₹35 lakh to secure government jobs. The material reportedly included digital communications, recruitment documents and selection-related records recovered during an investigation involving premises linked to Nehru’s brother.
The allegations are under investigation and have not been established in court.
Madras High Court Order Led to Case Registration
The latest searches follow the Madras High Court’s October 26 dismissal of Nehru’s petition seeking a review of its earlier direction to register a case based on material supplied by the ED.
The court issued the original direction on February 20, following which the DVAC registered a case in June.
The High Court has clarified that an order directing the registration of a case does not amount to a finding of guilt. Investigators must examine the available material and determine whether offences took place and who, if anyone, was responsible.
Nehru has also approached the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court’s direction.
Earlier Searches Covered 30 Locations
Thursday’s operation comes after extensive DVAC searches on September 5 at properties linked to Nehru, his relatives and others. The earlier operation covered 30 locations across Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode.
The September searches were part of a separate investigation into alleged irregularities in departmental contracts.
In that case, the ED alleged that at least ₹1,020 crore had been collected through bribes and commissions linked to the manipulation of tenders. The DVAC subsequently reported seizing 241 documents and electronic evidence.
Following the September searches, Nehru denied wrongdoing, described the action as political vendetta and said he would contest the case legally.
DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also criticised the operation as politically motivated and questioned its timing during the Assembly session.
The fresh searches add to the ongoing investigations involving the former minister, with the recruitment case and the alleged contract irregularities being examined separately.