The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has told the Madras High Court that the corruption case registered against former DMK minister E.V. Velu is not a vindictive action, and sought dismissal of his petition to quash the FIR.
The case stems from a complaint by Arappor Iyakkam alleging irregularities under the State’s Integrated Road Infrastructure Development Programme, claiming that works were not carried out while funds were released to private firms. Based on the complaint, DVAC police registered a case against Velu and 10 others, including Highways Department officials and contractors.
Hearing Velu’s quash petition, Justice V. Lakshmi Narayanan was informed by DVAC that searches were conducted on June 25 in Chennai and Tiruvannamalai at 20 locations, during which documents and Rs 40 lakh were seized. DVAC said the probe is still at the preliminary investigation stage and argued that the registration of the case was proper.
DVAC also contended that the allegation of vendetta cannot be accepted, and stated that no criminal action was taken against the officials who released the funds, attributing it to Velu. It further said that departmental action against an official amounted only to stopping one annual increment, calling the departmental inquiry an eyewash.
Arappor Iyakkam, in its response, said the petition was an attempt to stall an investigation into a case that caused major loss to the public exchequer, and sought directions to DVAC to complete the probe. The court adjourned the final hearing to September 10 and extended its interim order that no harsh action be taken against Velu until then.
