Published Jun 25, 2026 | 10:20 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 25, 2026 | 10:20 AM
EV Velu.
Synopsis: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption carried out searches at 13 locations linked to former Tamil Nadu minister EV Velu. The raid follows a complaint by Arappor Iyakkam, which alleged corruption in the construction of roads across the state.
Former Tamil Nadu minister EV Velu is facing fresh scrutiny as officials from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Thursday, 25 June, carried out searches at 13 locations linked to him, including his residence in Alwarpet, Chennai, amid tight police security.
According to officials, simultaneous searches are underway in Chennai, Tiruvannamalai and other locations connected to the former minister.
The raid follows a complaint by Jayaram I Venkatesan, Convenor of the NGO Arappor Iyakkam, who alleged corruption in the construction of roads across the state. The FIR names Velu, 10 government officials and unknown officials of the Highways Department and private individuals.
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Providing details of payments, the NGO alleged in the complaint that it has learnt that crores of money have been paid to contractors in various divisions of the State Highways Department in March 2022 for works which were not executed until then.
“This seems to have . happened through collusion of officials of the State Highways Department and select set of Contractors. We request you to immediately register a FIR under Prevention of Corruption Act and do a thorough investigation,” it said in the complaint.
Velu, who served as Food Minister between 2006 and 2011 as part of the DMK government, had earlier faced a disproportionate assets case registered by DVAC in March 2012 under the AIADMK regime, alleging that he amassed assets worth ₹26.30 lakh beyond known sources of income.
In June 2015, the Tiruvannamalai Chief Judicial Magistrate Court discharged Velu and his wife, Jeeva Velu, from the case, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. A subsequent appeal filed by DVAC was later dismissed by the Supreme Court of India in 2018.
Velu, who later served as Public Works and Highways Minister in the previous DMK government and currently serves as DMK Tiruvannamalai district secretary and Assembly whip, had also faced Income Tax Department searches in 2023 over complaints related to the alleged accumulation of wealth linked to government contracts and educational institutions owned by him.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
