DVAC is conducting searches at 30 locations associated with KN Nehru

Former minister and DMK leader KN Nehru was interacting with the media outside his residence in Tiruchi on Saturday. | Photo credit: M. MOORTHY

Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials on Saturday conducted simultaneous searches at 30 places linked to former minister and DMK leader KN Nehru in Chennai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore, Erode and Tiruppur.

According to sources, the searches were conducted as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in contracts awarded by the Municipal Water Supply and Management Department (MAWS) between 2021 and 2025, when Mr Nehru held the portfolio. In Chennai, Mr Nehru’s residence in Mylapore and premises associated with him and his brother Ravichandran in Thiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Anna Nagar and Raja Annamalaipuram were searched.

DVAC officials seized 241 incriminating documents, in addition to electronic evidence, allegedly linked to tender irregularities.

The investigation is ongoing, DVAC said.

Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials raided the residence of former municipal administration minister and DMK general secretary KN Nehru in Tiruchi on Saturday.

In Tiruchi, searches were conducted at the residences of former Corporation Chief Engineer Sivapathama at Shanmuga Nagar and Mr. Nehru’s former personal assistant Manikandan at Srirangam. The searches were conducted on the basis of a first information report (FIR) registered by the DVAC headquarters in Chennai against Mr. Nehru and 12 others on charges of collecting party fund from the awardees, sources in the investigating agency said.

A DVAC team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police launched a search on former Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Tiruchi Mayor M. Anbazhagan and several DMK members were present during a search of Mr. Nehru’s residence at Thillai Nagar in Tiruchi around 8 am. The investigating agency collected several documents from his residence and requested Mr. The seven-hour search ended at 3 pm, sources said.

After the seven-hour search ended at 3 pm, Mr. Nehru told reporters outside his residence that the DVAC team told him in the morning that there was some mistake in the selection process, on the basis of which an FIR was registered. Searches were also conducted at his residence in Chennai besides his brother’s office, Mr. Nehru said, claiming that the team could not recover anything. However, the team took a copy of an office file which they termed as a “routine file”.

“Enhanced Full Collaboration”

Mr. Nehru said he cooperated fully with the DVAC team during the investigation, who he said maintained that he had not spoken to anyone about the tender issue and was innocent. This was a fresh case by DVAC against him, he added.

Asked whether the searches were carried out by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government to intimidate him and also for a political vendetta, Mr. Nehru said it was certainly an act of political revenge by the TVK government. Responding to a question, Mr. Nehru further said that DMK president MK Stalin had spoken to him and asked him to extend cooperation in the search.

“No political revenge”

Minister for Energy Resources and Law CTR Nirmalkumar rejected allegations of political vendetta, saying that DVAC’s searches of the residences of senior political figures were strictly guided by procedures and that no individual had the authority to interfere in anti-corruption investigations. He flatly rejected allegations of political vendetta, saying: “There is absolutely no political vendetta behind this. No one has the right to interfere with the functioning of the DVAC.”

In Coimbatore, DVAC conducted inspections at the residences of Mr. Nehru’s brothers Manivannan at Kallimadai and Ravichandran at Masakalipalayam. The residence of former town planning officer Sasi Priya at Sivaram Nagar in Ramanathapuram was also searched.

A team led by DVAC Additional Superintendent of Police (ADSP) Rajesh along with Inspector Arumugam and other personnel started the searches around 7:00 AM. The teams searched the premises and examined documents and other materials that could be relevant to the charges against the individuals, police sources said.

Published – 05 Sep 2026 09:41 IST