The Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court that it has decided to withdraw a review petition filed during the previous DMK regime in a corruption case involving former minister K.N. Nehru.
The case stems from allegations that bribes worth Rs 634 crore were taken in connection with appointments of 2,538 posts such as assistant engineers and junior engineers in the municipal administration department. The Enforcement Directorate had written to the state DGP seeking registration of a case.
In a petition filed by AIADMK MP Inbadurai, the court had earlier directed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a case immediately based on the ED letter. As the order was not implemented, a contempt petition was also filed.
Subsequently, review petitions were filed by K.N. Nehru’s side and by the state government seeking reconsideration of the direction to register the case. When the matter came up before a bench comprising Chief Justice Dharmaadhikari and Justice G. Arulmurugan, Advocate General Vijay Narayan said the government was withdrawing the earlier review plea as the new government intended to continue the case.
K.N. Nehru’s counsel opposed the withdrawal, arguing that a concluded judicial process cannot be altered merely due to a change in government, citing Supreme Court rulings. After hearing both sides, the bench posted the review petitions and the government’s request to withdraw its plea to July 10, and issued an interim order that no action should be taken on the DVAC-registered case until then.
