2 months ago
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Tamil Nadu Advocate General P.S. Raman connected Tuesday (March 3, 2026) told the Madras High Court the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) is contemplating to record a reappraisal petition against the court’s February 20, 2026 bid to registry a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the alleged currency for jobs scam successful Minister K.N. Nehru’s Municipal Administration and Water Supply department.
He made the submission earlier the archetypal Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan during the proceeding of a contempt of tribunal petition filed by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Rajya Sabha subordinate I.S. Inbadurai against DVAC erstwhile manager (in-charge) A.T. Durai Kumar for alleged disobedience of the bid to registry the FIR forthwith.
Opening the arguments connected behalf of the petitioner, elder counsel V. Raghavachari said, much than 10 days had lapsed since the tribunal ordered registration of FIR “forthwith” but the DVAC was yet to registry the case. When the Chief Justice wanted to cognize the effect of the State from the A-G who was contiguous successful the tribunal hall, Mr. Raman replied that Advocate General mostly does not look successful contempt petitions.
He said, elder counsel N.R. Elango would beryllium representing the DVAC. Nevertheless, since the tribunal had asked him, the A-G said, the DVAC was contemplating to record a reappraisal petition. He besides stated the bureau had adjacent sought an sentiment from him arsenic to whether a authorisation from the State authorities nether Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988 indispensable beryllium obtained earlier registering the FIR.
After proceeding their preliminary submissions, the Chief Justice’s Bench directed the DVAC to record a elaborate effect to the contempt plea wrong 2 weeks and adjourned the proceeding thereafter. In his affidavit, the AIADMK MP had accused Mr. Durai Kumar, who was holding the station of DVAC manager earlier the assignment of S. Davidson Devasirvatham connected March 1, of having wilfully disobeyed the tribunal order.
Mr. Inbadurai said, the scam was of precise superior nature, successful which bribe amounts ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹35 lakh had been obtained from candidates to capable up 2,538 posts of Assistant Engineers, Junior Engineers, and truthful on. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had unearthed credible materials to fishy that the wealth was obtained done hawala transactions and thereafter brought into the banking system.
The cardinal bureau had collected those materials during a search-and-seizure cognition carried retired by it astatine the residences of the Minister’s brothers N. Ravichandran, K.N. Manivannan, and 2 different associates. Even during the proceeding of a writ petition filed by the MP seeking registration of FIR by DVAC, the ED had supported the petitioner’s plea and insisted that the FIR should so beryllium registered forthwith.
After being convinced of the gravity of the charge, the High Court connected February 20, 2026, expressed displeasure implicit the DVAC having conducted a preliminary inquiry, without registering an FIR, and ordered that the FIR indispensable beryllium registered forthwith since the prima facie materials regarding the offence had been shared by nary different than a Central bureau tasked with the work of probing wealth laundering cases.
