The Madras High Court has questioned why a special procedure appeared to be followed while seeking sanction to prosecute IAS officers who are accused in a corruption case. The court asked why clarifications were sought from the accused officers and observed that such a practice should be discontinued.
The matter arises from allegations dating back to the AIADMK regime, when S.P. Velumani served as Minister for Municipal Administration. A complaint alleged irregularities of about Rs 98.25 crore in awarding road-work tenders in the Chennai and Coimbatore corporations to relatives and close associates, following which a case was registered against Velumani and others.
A contempt petition was later filed by Arappor Iyakkam against the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), alleging non-compliance with an earlier direction to file the charge sheet. The case is being heard by Justice N. Anand Venkatesh.
During the latest hearing, the DVAC’s Special Public Prosecutor John Sathyan told the court that documents related to sanction for prosecuting the IAS officers were sent to the Union government on July 22. Justice Anand Venkatesh questioned the need to seek explanations from the accused officers in the sanction process and adjourned the matter to August 24.
