Tamil Nadu : Enforcement Directorate Alleges Bribe Taken For Government Posts Handed Over By MK Stalin

New Delhi : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alerted the Tamil Nadu Police about an alleged large-scale cash-for-jobs scam in the state’s Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department. The ED alleged that bribes ranging from Rs 25 to 35 lakh were paid by candidates to secure posts such as Assistant Engineers, Junior Engineers, and Town Planning Officers. The appointments, according to the agency, were handed over by Chief Minister MK Stalin on August 6 this year.

The agency also alleged that the bribe money was collected in cash and routed through hawala channels. According to the ED, evidence indicates that around 150 candidates who paid bribes were appointed. The agency has also named several officials and politicians allegedly linked to the scam in its letter to the police. ED can only initiate a probe after the registration of an FIR by the state police, the agency has urged Tamil Nadu Police to file a case and begin investigation into the alleged scam.

The ED had previously summoned Visakan twice, but these summons were not complied with, according to agency sources. In March, after searching the Tasmac head office, distilleries, and breweries, the agency suspected a Rs 1,000 crore scam involving illegal cash generation through inflated bottle prices from manufacturers.

The investigation was initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on FIRs registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) between 2016 and 2021. During this period, Visakan was detained at the Tasmac office for approximately two days. Tasmac’s legal attempt to challenge the ED searches was unsuccessful, with the Madras High Court rejecting their plea to declare the searches illegal.

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