A seismic judicial mandate from the Madras High Court has thrust Tamil Nadu Minister KN Nehru into the eye of a corruption storm, with orders for DVAC to file an FIR over multimillion-rupee scams. The February directive, under Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, validates ED findings of rampant irregularities in municipal and water supply sectors.
The allegations are staggering: ₹630-1,020 crore in siphoned funds through rigged tenders and 2,538 illicit appointments, each allegedly costing ₹25-35 lakh in payoffs. ED raids on associated properties unearthed damning proof—digital communications, snapshots of illicit deals, and ledgers tracing illicit flows back to ministerial influence.
Opposition BJP wasted no time, with spokesperson ANS Prasad decrying it as proof of DMK’s ‘endemic graft.’ He urged CM MK Stalin to sack Nehru forthwith and entrust the CBI with a no-holds-barred probe. ‘Only central intervention guarantees justice,’ Prasad stressed on Sunday.
DMK’s reticence fuels speculation of internal discord as 2026 elections approach. While legal pundits remind that FIRs aren’t verdicts, the development amplifies BJP’s narrative of DMK mismanagement.
This saga highlights vulnerabilities in Tamil Nadu’s administrative machinery, where political clout allegedly trumps merit. DVAC’s impending actions could ripple through bureaucracy, prompting calls for overhaul.
As the drama intensifies, it serves as a stark reminder of corruption’s toll on public services, galvanizing demands for transparency in governance.