The Madras High Court has questioned the Tamil Nadu government on why it sought explanations from two IAS officers who are accused in a tender irregularities case linked to former minister S.P. Velumani.
The case relates to allegations that road work tenders in the Chennai and Coimbatore corporations were awarded to relatives and close associates during the previous AIADMK regime, leading to an alleged irregularity of Rs 98.25 crore. Following a preliminary enquiry, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) submitted a report to the government and an FIR was registered against Velumani and others.
A contempt petition was later filed by Arappor Iyakkam, alleging that DVAC did not comply with a court direction to file the charge sheet. During earlier hearings, the High Court noted that DVAC had written to the Public Department Secretary on February 27 regarding sanction to prosecute two IAS officers—K.S. Kandasamy and K. Vijayakarthikeyan—and sought explanations on why the files were kept pending for five months.
When the matter came up again before Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, petitions were filed on behalf of retired IAS officer Rita Harish Thakkar and the current secretary Sundaravalli explaining the delay. DVAC’s Special Public Prosecutor John Sathyan told the court that the file seeking prosecution sanction had been forwarded to the Union government on July 22.
Referring to the public department’s submission, the judge questioned why the accused officers were asked for explanations in a sanction-for-prosecution process, stating he had not heard of such a practice and asking why IAS officers alone should get such a special concession. The court directed that the practice be stopped and adjourned the hearing to the 24th.
