The Tamil Nadu Information Commission has directed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to provide details of corruption cases registered against MPs and MLAs in Tamil Nadu to a petitioner seeking information under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
In his petition sent to the state anti-corruption agency on 19 November 2024, Aadithya Cholan from Chennai sought details of corruption cases registered against MPs / MLAs in the state. After his objection was rejected, he appealed to the first appellate body.
The petitioner also filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court seeking relief. Disposing of the case on 18 July 2025, the court directed the Tamil Nadu Information Commission to hear the appeal on merits and pass orders in accordance with law. Based on the court’s decision, the commission summoned both parties and conducted an investigation.
“Harmful to security”
While Mr. Cholan claimed that he was given a wrong reply, the PIO/Superintendent of Police, DVAC, stood by the earlier reply denying the information. It said the information sought could disproportionately divert agency resources or compromise the security of records.
He invoked Section 7(9) of the RTI Act, which stated: “Information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is requested unless it would unduly divert the resources of a public authority or jeopardize the security or preservation of the record in question.”
After hearing both sides, the state’s Chief Information Commissioner Md. Shakeel Akhter said that denial of information is not acceptable. Directed DVAC to provide amended/correct reply to petitioner as per official records within one month and report compliance to Commission.
According to police sources, about 20 cases booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 by the DVAC against sitting and former elected representatives were at various stages of investigation or trial.
Published – 18 Nov 2025 0:43 IST
