Chennai, 8 December (H.S.) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally written to the Tamil Nadu government's top officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) to investigate an alleged widespread corruption network within the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department.
The central agency has submitted a comprehensive dossier, running over 250 pages, which specifically names Minister K.N. Nehru and his associates in connection with the scam.
The ED’s communication alleges that a staggering sum of at least ₹1,020 crore was collected as bribes and party funds through the manipulation of tenders for various departmental contracts.
The probe agency claims that contractors were forced to pay a commission ranging from 7.5% to 10% of the total contract value to the Minister's relatives and associates. According to the documents submitted, tenders were frequently rigged and pre-decided in favour of certain contractors before the bids were officially opened.
The evidence cited by the ED includes digital material seized during searches conducted in April this year, comprising photographs, WhatsApp chats, and calculation sheets detailing the bribe amounts and hawala transactions used to launder the money.
The ED’s request for a state police FIR is crucial, as the agency requires an existing predicate offense to initiate a full investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
This marks the second instance in recent weeks where the ED has urged the state authorities to register a case regarding alleged corruption within the MAWS department.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
