Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Oct 29: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Thursday conducted searches at 25 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to former minister and DMK leader K N Nehru in connection with an alleged Rs 634-crore cash-for-jobs scam in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department.
The searches follow the registration of a case against Nehru and others on the directions of the Madras High Court, which ordered a full-fledged investigation into the alleged irregularities based on materials shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED had flagged the suspected irregularities to state police in October 2025.
The investigation centres on allegations that bribes were collected from candidates in exchange for government jobs in the MAWS department during Nehru’s tenure as minister. DVAC officials are examining documents, financial records and other materials at the locations to trace the suspected money trail and gather evidence related to the recruitment process.
The searches come a day after Nehru moved the Supreme Court, filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the Madras High Court’s October 26 order dismissing his review petition against the registration of the FIR.
Reacting to the searches, DMK president M K Stalin described the action as “Vettri Vendetta Politics” allegedly orchestrated by the TVK government.
In a lengthy post on X, Stalin accused Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of staging a “raidshow” to divert public and media attention from what he described as the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He claimed that women, children and senior citizens were unsafe.
Stalin also called the ruling party the “TN Branch Washing Machine”, alleging that it was absorbing corrupt individuals while targeting former DMK ministers.
He further alleged that the searches were intended to generate “reels videos” ahead of the upcoming Trichy East by-election and provide the chief minister with an opportunity to deliver “punch dialogues” on stage.
“Even the toenail of a grassroots DMK cadre will not fear these raids,” Stalin said.
The DMK chief also criticised the TVK government over what he called its “rusted administration” and rising prices, claiming that the state government had become a subject of ridicule across the country.