Coimbatore: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) police on Tuesday launched raids at 52 places belonging to former Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani in connection with a ongoing corruption case against him.
Coimbatore: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) police on Tuesday launched raids at 52 places belonging to former Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani in connection with a ongoing corruption case against him.
Based on a petition in 2018 by Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharathi and V Jayaraman, the convenor of NGO Arappor Iyakkam alleging misuse of power by the Minister by favouring his aides in procuring crores worth of tenders and contracts from Coimbatore and Chennai Corporations, FIR has been registered on a total of 17 members including Velumani, his brother P Anbarasan.
During the search proceedings at multiple locations of the former minister and his aides, the DVAC have seized cash Rs.13,08,500/-, documents related Land Registrations, Transaction documents of business firms, — fixed deposits to the tune of Two crores, official records of Corporation, electronic Hard Discs and other incriminating documents.
However, an AIADMK advocate named Damodaran in a press meet has refuted the allegations of seizure of several incriminating documents and cash. He claimed that only a locker key was seized.
Following the raid, the DVAC have issued a statement which reads:
Based on the allegation petitions received against the Former Minister Tr. SP Velumani, a Preliminary Enquiry was conducted by DV&AC and an enquiry report was sent to the Government along with a copy submitted to the Hon’ble High Court, Madras.
On perusal of the report, Hon’ble High Court directed that “The State should spare no efforts in getting to the bottom of the matter and proceed against those found to be responsible for the irregularities” and to conduct further investigation in the light of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Reports.
Accordingly, a further enquiry was conducted by DVAC into the allegations mentioned in the petitions. As revealed, prima facie, a case in V&AC Headquarters Cr. No.16/2021 u/s. 120(B) r/w 420 IPC, 409 IPC and Section 13(2) r/w 13 (1) (c) and 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act,1988 r/w109 IPC has been registered against Tr. S.P.Velumani, S/o.E.A.Palanisamy, formerly Minister of Municipal Administration and 16 other private individuals/ business firms, unknown others and unknown officials of Municipal Corporations of Chennai City and Coimbatore City for the alleged commission of criminal misappropriation and criminal misconduct in Tenders.
In the course of investigation, today on 10.08.2021, searches were conducted in 60 places (42 places in Coimbatore, 16 places in Chennai, One place each in Kanchipuram & Dindigul), which include the residences, offices and farm houses belonging to Tr.S.P.Velumani, his relatives, close associates and officials of Chennai and Coimbatore Corporation. The premises of suspected business establishments involved were also searched.
During the search proceedings, cash Rs.13,08,500/-, documents related Land Registrations, Transaction documents of business firms, — fixed deposits to the tune of Two crores, official records of Corporation, electronic Hard Discs and other incriminating documents were seized. Investigation of the case is under progress, the statement read.