Raids at Ex-Min SP Velumani’s Residence: DVAC Files FIR Against 17 People, AIADMK Resorts To Protest

The complainants have alleged that the former Municipal Administration Minister has abused his official position for large scale favouritism in awarding tenders at Chennai and Coimbatore Corporations.

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Chennai: Scores of AIADMK cadre are protesting against the raids conducted by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption at the residence and 51 premises owned by Former AIADMK Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani in connection with a complaint registered by DMK’s RS Bharathi and Arappor Iyyakkam, an anti-corruption watchdog, on Tuesday. The complainants have alleged that the former Minister for Municipal Administration has “abused his official position by resorting to large scale favoritism and awarding construction and supply of Goods/Services tender in Greater Chennai Corporation and Coimbatore Municipal Corporation”. 

According to a report in ABP Nadu, the cadre surrounded the residence of the former Minister at Kuniyamuthur in Coimbatore and raised slogans against DVAC for conducting raids at the premises of the party’s heavyweight in the western districts. The AIADMK members also held a protest in front of MLA Hostel in Chepauk where the former Minister is being questioned by the DVAC officials.

The raids at the Former Minister started at 7 am on Tuesday and many officials are reportedly involved in conducting inspections at Chennai, Kanchipuram and Dindigul. The DVAC has also filed FIR against SP Velumani and 16 others. 

According to the FIR, "During the year 2014 to 2018 while SP Velumani was serving as Minister of Municipal Administration, the total worth of tenders allotted to his closely associated companies is approx Rs 464.02 crores in Greater Chennai Corporation and approx Rs.346.81 crores in Coimbatore Municipal Corporation."

The FIR said that Anbarasan, brother of SP Velumani and Rajan Rathinasamy--both registered as contractors under Coimbatore Corporation--were registered under the same mobile number and also the bids were submitted from the same IP Address one after the other. The same IP Address indicated that both the parties are one and the same and are colluded for the purpose of bidding. 

The FIR said, "The Report No. 4 of 2020 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Govt. Of Tamilnadu - G&SSA), mentions the malpractices in Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation, under the heading 'Injudicious award of contracts', the modus operandi adopted by officials and contractors in the tender malpractices were highlighted. It is found that the bidders while submitting financial bids, quote 'abnormally high' and 'abnormally low prices for some components/items than the prescribed 'scheduled rates of the tender document."

Based on the accusations, DVAC concluded that there is prima facie material that 17 accused and unknown officials of Municipal corporations of Greater Chennai city and Coimbatore city "with dishonest Intentions entered into criminal conspiracy during the year 2014 to 2018, in injudiciously awarding of tenders in Bus route Road, Stormwater drain and contracts pertaining to outsourcing of the staff for Health department and certain other contract works in Greater Chennai and Coimbatore Municipal Corporations by violating the procedure established by law and thereby committed cheating and criminal misappropriation of public money amounting to several Crores of Rupees of the Govt of Tamilnadu." The FIR said, the committed offences are punishable under Sections 120 B, r/w 420 IPC, 409 IPC, section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) and 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, r/w 109 IPC.

Meanwhile, the DVAC has started the inspection within 10 days of Tamil Nadu informing the Madras High Court that they would dig into contracts awarded by Chennai and Coimbatore Corporation during AIADMK rule. The Court also said that the state government should not spare anyone and take proceedings against the people responsible for the alleged irregularities.