KC Veeramani is the third former AIADMK minister to come under scrutiny since DMK’s election
Chennai:
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) is raiding former AIADMK minister KC Veeramani on a complaint of disproportionate assets.
An agency spokesperson said that DVAC teams are conducting searches at 28 places and properties belonging to the former minister in Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Veeramani was the Minister of Commercial Taxes in the previous administration, which was headed by former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The FIR registered by DVAC estimated disproportionate assets at Rs 28.7 crore.
It is alleged that between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2021, his assets increased from Rs 25.9 crore to Rs 56.6 crore. His income during that period was estimated at Rs 4.3 crore and expenses at Rs 2.56 crore. His savings were estimated at Rs 1.83 crore.
According to the FIR, Mr. Veeramani “is in possession of extraordinary resources and assets, and has knowingly illegally enriched himself during his term of office”.
The FIR states that it is an offense of criminal misconduct punishable under several sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and its 2018 amendments.
KC Veeramani is the third former AIADMK minister to come under the scanner of the state’s anti-corruption agency since the MK Stalin-led DMK government came to power in May.
In July, the agency raided the properties of former transport minister MR Vijayabhaskar and claimed to have recovered Rs 25.5 lakh in cash, sale deeds, insurance policies and transactions with businesses.
A month later, the agency also raided former Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani after an NGO alleged corruption in awarding contracts.
The AIADMK has called these raids “political vendetta” and said it will face them legally.
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