Madras High Court Directs DVAC to Register Corruption Case Based on ED Evidence
In a significant legal development, the Madras High Court has issued a directive to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to immediately register a formal case. This order is based on incriminating information and evidence provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP). The case revolves around allegations of widespread, multi-crore corruption within the state's municipal administration department.
Court Criticizes State's Delay and Approach
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Tamil Nadu government's handling of the matter. The bench noted that the ED had shared detailed source information with the DGP on October 27, 2025, which included seized materials such as hall tickets and communications among key individuals, including brothers and high-ranking officials closely linked to the sitting minister of the department.
Despite this evidence being available for over three and a half months, no case had been registered by the state authorities. The court observed, "The fact that, though the source information was shared on Oct 27, 2025, even after three-and-a-half months the same did not result in registration of a case, prima facie shows that the state, under the guise of conducting a preliminary enquiry, is not inclined to register a case."
Further, the bench criticized the state's actions, stating, "On the contrary, we find that under the guise of conducting a preliminary investigation, the state is embarking upon a mini trial." This remark underscores the court's view that the delay and procedural approach were inappropriate given the gravity of the allegations.
Details of the Alleged Corruption
The corruption scandal involves serious irregularities in the municipal administration department, including:
- Alleged manipulation in floating tenders.
- Recruitment of approximately 2,538 candidates through questionable means.
- Corruption related to transfers and postings within the department.
The court emphasized that the evidence presented by the ED is substantial, noting, "The details shared and the materials available reveal that those candidates got selected pursuant to the alleged transactions, and when a large-scale corruption was stated to have happened involving several hundred crores of rupees, we find that the source material is sufficient to disclose commission of a cognisable offence."
Unlike typical complaints that might require preliminary inquiries, the bench highlighted that this case involves "detailed source information provided by ED with a voluminous set of evidence disclosing a cognisable offence."
Court's Directive and Legal Proceedings
While the court was "prima facie satisfied that the investigation could be entrusted to an independent agency," it decided to direct the DVAC to proceed, given that the state had already entrusted the case to this body. The order states, "...we deem it appropriate that the DVAC should be directed to forthwith register a case and conduct a detailed investigation and take suitable further action based on the investigation report."
This directive was issued in response to a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate and AIADMK MP I S Inbadurai, seeking urgent action on the corruption allegations. The court's ruling mandates the DVAC to not only register the case promptly but also to carry out a thorough investigation and report its findings for further legal steps.
The decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing scrutiny of corruption in Tamil Nadu's administrative functions, potentially leading to significant legal and political repercussions as the investigation unfolds.
