Disproportionate Assets: Five AIADMK Ex-Ministers Who Have Come Under DVAC’s Scanner After DMK Govt Formation

In a first, the DVAC raided the office and residence of former AIADMK minister MR Vijayabaskar and even on Wednesday the DVAC raided the residence of former Minister Thangamani.

Several lakhs of unaccounted cash have been retrieved by DVAC in the searches (File photo)

Chennai: From the time DMK formed the government in Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has placed the radar on at least five former AIADMK ministers of the state till now. The Chief Minister MK Stalin ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly elections also assured to conduct raids at the residence and offices of former AIADMK ministers to check for disproportionate assets. 

In this backdrop, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin won with a huge majority in April 2021 elections and DVAC also started conducting raids in the house of the former AIADMK ministers. In a first, the DVAC raided the office and residence of former AIADMK minister MR Vijayabaskar and even on Wednesday the DVAC raided the residence of former Minister Thangamani.

Raids Conducted On Ex-AIADMK Ministers’ Residence 

MR Vijayabaskar: The first ex-Minister on the radar was former Transportation Minister MR Vijayabaskar. 

The DVAC raided 21 properties belonging to MR Vijayabaskar in Karur and Chennai. After the search, the DVAC officials seized Rs 25.56 lakh cash and other important documents. It can also be noted that the former Minister contested against Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji in Karur and lost his seat. 

SP Velumani: The former AIADMK Municipal Administration Minister Velumani’s residence and office were also raided by the DVAC. In the FIR, the sleuths said that the former Minister showed favoritism while allotting tenders of Chennai and Coimbatore Corporations. They also alleged that he allotted some tenders to his close associates.

In the search at 60 places, the DVAC sleuths seized Rs 13 lakh cash, land-related documents and several other transaction-related papers. 

KC Veeramani: The former Minister for Commercial Taxes KC Veeramani was under the radar for allegedly amassing Rs 28.78 crore worth assets from April 2016 to March 2021. In the raids, DVAC seized Rs 34.01 lakh cash, Rs 1.8 lakh worth US dollars, bank passbooks and other property documents. 

C Vijayabaskar: The fourth person on the radar was the former Health Minister C Vijayabaskar who allegedly amassed wealth to the tune of Rs 27.22 crore between April 2016 and March 2021. The DVAC also registered an FIR against the former Minister, his wife and daughters. In the FIR, the DVAC said that the Minister was running 14 educational institutions under the name Mother Teresa Educational and Charitable Trust across Tamil Nadu. 

Thangamani: The DVAC on Wednesday conducted raids in 69 locations linked to the former Minister Thangamani across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The DVAC is raiding the residence of the former Electricity Minister for amassing wealth to the tune of Rs 4.85 crore. However, the raids are still continuing and the former Minister is likely to be questioned on the reason for the losses of TANGEDCO.