Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration and Water Supplies Minister K. N. Nehru on Monday issued a sharp rebuttal to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) allegation of a ₹1,020-crore bribery and tender-fixing racket within his department. Dismissing the claims as “politically driven lies,” Nehru alleged that the charges were timed to benefit the AIADMK–BJP alliance ahead of upcoming elections.
Accusing the agency of acting on political instructions, the Minister said: “ED has become an extended wing of the BJP. Their fake allegations will be faced legally. My achievements give sleepless nights to the AIADMK-BJP alliance.”
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Nehru also pointed out that the ED’s investigation stemmed from an earlier case involving his brother, which he said had already been quashed by the High Court. “The High Court said no offence had occurred. Even the ED’s FIR based on that was quashed. Yet they keep reopening propaganda at the behest of the BJP,” he added.
The Enforcement Directorate, in a communication sent to the Tamil Nadu DGP and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), has urged the registration of a fresh FIR against the Minister. The agency alleges that a corruption network worth ₹1,020 crore operated within the Municipal Administration Department, claiming that contractors paid between 7.5% and 10% of project costs as bribes to secure tenders for public works such as toilet construction, civic infrastructure projects, and outsourced services.
The ED’s allegations and the Minister’s countercharges are expected to set the stage for a heated political battle in Tamil Nadu as investigations continue.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
