MNM Seeks Immediate Arrest Of Former AIADMK Minister SP Velumani, Says Accused May 'Destroy Evidence'

In a statement, Senthil Arumugam, state secretary of MNM said, Velumani might indulge in activities like destroying the evidence and causing interruption to the inquiry of the case.

Chennai: Almost a week after the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) searched the premises of former AIADMK minister SP Velumani and his associates, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Monday sought the immediate arrest of Velumani. 

In a statement, MNM State Secretary Senthil Arumugam said, considering the importance of the case and background of the former minister, DVAC should immediately arrest him. "If not, he might indulge in activities like destroying the evidence and causing interruption to the inquiry of the case", he further added.

Pointing out that those who indulge in corruption should be sent to prison soon, the statement said that the information itself becomes a warning sign to others who follow a similar path.

"Not just in this case, the DVAC sleuths should speed up the inquiry in all the corruption-related cases," the statement added.

Velumani, who is considered as one of the powerful ministers in the AIADMK regime, along with 16 other individuals and business firms was booked for irregularities committed to issuing contracts between 2014 and 2018 on August 9.

The FIR was registered against P Anbarasan, Velumani’s brother, KCP engineers private limited, its managing director K Chandraprakash and its director cum shareholder K Chandrasekar and several others.

The accused had managed to win tenders worth Rs 464 crores in the Greater Chennai Corporation and another Rs 346.8 crores worth tenders in Coimbatore corporation. Authorities violated the Tamil Nadu Transparency Act, Transparency in Tenders Rules, guidelines of Central Vigilance Commission and engineering manual of Tamil Nadu while floating tenders and issuing contracts. Violations were also found at other stages like bidding, negotiation and execution of work.

The FIR was registered based on a complaint filed by DMK Rajya Sabha member RS Bharathi and Arappor Iyakkam, a Chennai-based anti-corruption watchdog.  

The very next day, DVAC sleuths had commenced their simultaneous search operations at 60 properties at multiple places including Chennai and Coimbatore. The search lasted for two days at several places.