Tamil Nadu: DVAC conducts raids at ex-minister C Vijayabaskar and SP Velumani’s place

New Delhi: Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption has conducted raids at places which are linked to the former state minister C Vijayabaskar and SP Velumani. 13 places are searched in connection to C Vijayabaskar and 26 in connection to SP Velumani. Those 13 places include Chennai and Salem. The two minister’s places are being searched in connection with the corruption case and abuse of his official position. The former state minister, C Vijayabaskar is linked to the corruption case of irregularities in the issuance of essentiality certificates in 2020. It has been alleged that SP Velumani has abused his position in awarding tenders injudiciously to his closely associated companies. 26 places have been raided in connection to this.

Tamil Nadu | DVAC is conducting searches at 26 places incl Chennai, Coimbatore linked to ex-state min SP Velumani,in connection with allegations that he had abused his official position in awarding tenders injudiciously to his close associated companies

(Visuals from Coimbatore) pic.twitter.com/K1FnO11hV5 — ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2022

Tamil Nadu | Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) conducts searches at 13 places incl Chennai, Salem & other places linked to ex-state min C Vijayabaskar in connection with the corruption case of irregularities in issuance of essentiality certificates in 2020: DVAC pic.twitter.com/hHY1rSZwqN — ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2022

Earlier in July, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought the Tamil Nadu government`s approval to prosecute two former ministers, namely C. Vijayabaskar and B.V. Ramana as many retired Directors General of Police, and eight others in the multi-crore Gutkha scam that had rocked the state during the AIADMK regime.

According to sources in the Tamil Nadu home department, the CBI`s anti-corruption unit has written a letter to get sanction for proceeding against two former ministers -- C. Vijayabaskar the former state health minister, and B.V. Ramana, the former tax minister in the AIADMK government. It has also sought permission for action against two former DGPs -- T.K. Rajendran and S. Geroge -- who had worked as the Commissioner of Police, Chennai during the previous government.

Notably, the sanction is necessary to prosecute former ministers and former senior IPS officers.

The incident related to the current case occurred in 2017 when bribes to the tune of Rs 39.91 crore were given to several politicians including ministers, bureaucrats, and former police officers for supporting and facilitating the storage and transport of Gutkha, which is a banned product, in Chennai.

The Income Tax department had unearthed the scam while it conducted a raid on the premises of a major Gutkha manufacturer in the country. The gutkha manufacturer, according to the CBI had in the records seized by the Income Tax department marked the bribes they had paid to politicians including ministers and police officers. The IT department, according to sources had sent the report to the government of Tamil Nadu but no action was taken against the perpetrators of the crime.

The CBI had taken over the investigation in 2018 and had charge-sheeted six of the accused including three officials. The second charge sheet, according to sources will be filed after the sanction is obtained for prosecution against the other accused, including former ministers and top police officers.