DVAC searches at ex-Minister’s premises yields Rs 28 cr assets
CHENNAI: Sleuths from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) carried out searches at 35 places, including six in Chennai and two premises in Bengaluru, connected to AIADMK leader KC Veeramani, former Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration Departments and and ex MLA from Jolarpet. DVAC registered DA case against him saying he had amassed over Rs 28.7 crore assets between 2016-2021 by misusing his official position.
During the searches, Rs 34 lakh cash, US dollars worth Rs1.80 lakh, nine luxury cars (including one Rolls Royce), 4.98 Kgs (623 sovereigns) gold jewellery, 47 grams diamond jewellery, 7.2 kgs silver articles, bank passbooks, property documents, were recorded and the cash, materials and documents seized. Moreover, 275 units of sand (approximately worth Rs 30 lakh) was found deposited in Veeramani’s residential premises, a press release said.
The DVAC case was registered by the Vellore unit under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. DVAC clarified that the team has taken an inventory of the cash, cars , gold and silver articles. The case relates to alleged possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Searches were also carried out in premises belonging to Veeramani’s kin and associates. In 2016, his assets were worth Rs.26 crore. By the end of the check period, his assets went up to Rs 56.6 crore.
Veeramani is the third former AIADMK Minister being probed by DVAC after MR Vijayabhaskar and SP Velumani.
Infrastructural development projects underway under Smart City Mission in Madurai will not serve any public purpose, but three former ministers of the previous regime who have had a vested interest in such projects, only for their personal gains sans planning, Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said on Thursday after inspecting a vehicle parking station of the Smart City Mission.
As per law, a special officer should have been deputed to oversee progress in achieving the mission, which should be discussed with the involvement of people’s representatives, including councillors and Mayor and holding review meeting at regular intervals. But, none of these activities happened until the end of AIADMK’s rule.
For instance, paver blocks and sand that existed on Chithirai Streets around Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple were replaced with stone blocks and such projects, which had not been designed properly with amenities for devotees and common public, were riddled with corruption. It’s certainly contrary to the notion of democracy and natural justice, Thiaga Rajan told reporters.
Moreover, the road along Vaigai banks were not properly laid. A financial audit by the state and Centre would be conducted to assess the quality of materials used in the projects. Further, he insisted on the need for amendments to the financial management and Chief Minister MK Stalin should create a new model, by categorising public financing, debt financing and infrastructure financing, he added.
During the previous regime, former chief minister J Jayalalithaa launched ‘Vision Tamil Nadu 2023.’ The scheme proposed balance sheet, capital raising and special purpose vehicle to take up more credit. But, even after seven years, the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Corporation (TNIFMC), created by the erstwhile regime, have not even extended credit to a single project. He said the idea of creating TNIFMC was good, but the execution was even more important. To execute this task and serve better, people have given an opportunity to the DMK, he said.
He denied allegations of political vendetta on DVAC raids on residences of Opposition leaders and said such actions were aimed at teaching corrupt politicians a lesson.