Overview
- The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption registered a criminal case that names E.V. Velu, nine highways department officials and at least one contractor and cites charges such as criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- The agency carried out coordinated searches at 13–14 locations, seizing documents and records from properties in Chennai, Karur, Erode, Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram as part of an investigation that began with the FIR and evidence collection on Thursday.
- The FIR alleges that in March 2022 payments were released for road projects that were not executed, including about Rs 3.23 crore in the Tiruppur/Karur case and roughly Rs 1.5 crore for two NABARD‑funded works in Erode, and notes that four officials were suspended after earlier departmental inquiries.
- DMK leaders say Velu will cooperate and call the case politically motivated while state ministers reject that claim and say the DVAC acted after obtaining legal permission and on the basis of prima facie materials.
- The probe is being handled by the DVAC Special Investigation Cell and the original FIR has been filed in the City Civil and Sessions Court, Chennai, so further evidence review, possible charges and political fallout are likely next steps.