Chennai: The Madras High Court has directed a retired IAS officer to appear via video conference and explain why case files related to former AIADMK minister S.P. Velumani were kept pending for nearly five months.
Velumani, who served as Minister for Municipal Administration during the AIADMK regime, faces allegations that road-work tenders in the Chennai and Coimbatore corporations were awarded to relatives and close associates, causing an alleged irregularity of Rs 98.25 crore. Based on a complaint, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) registered a case against him and others.
A contempt petition was filed by Arappor Iyakkam against the DVAC, alleging non-compliance with a court direction to file the charge sheet in the case. The petition came up before Justice N. Anand Venkatesh.
During the hearing, DVAC counsel Arun Anbumani said permission was sought from the Union government to prosecute two IAS officers named in the case, and that after the Centre sought clarifications, an explanation was sent on February 27 to the Public Department Secretary.
The judge noted that the issue has remained pending with the Public Department since February 27 without any explanation, and ordered former Public Department Secretary and retired IAS officer Rita Harish Thakkar to explain the delay. The court also asked the current Public Department Secretary to file a petition and adjourned the matter to August 3, while observing that reasons such as elections or change of government cannot be accepted and expressing concern over the lack of progress despite repeated orders.
