The Madras High Court has refused to grant an interim stay on the trial in a case registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) against former DMK minister Velu and his son Kumaran.
The case stems from allegations that sand was excavated from the Malappambadi lake in Tiruvannamalai to level the venue for the DMK youth wing conference held on December 14, 2025. A complaint by Arappor Iyakkam alleged that sand was removed to a depth of 10 to 23 feet, causing an estimated loss of about Rs 8 crore to the government.
Based on the complaint, DVAC registered a case against Velu and Kumaran. They approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR, arguing that the sand was taken only after obtaining proper permission and that the case was “imaginary.”
They also contended that the case was registered without obtaining the Governor’s sanction and sought a stay on further proceedings. Justice Lakshminarayanan, however, said an interim stay could not be granted without hearing the prosecution’s response.
Accepting the police request for time to file a reply, the court adjourned the hearing to November 6.
