Former DMK Minister E.V. Velu Questioned by DVAC in ₹3.23 Crore Highway Scam; Supreme Court Rejects TN Government Plea

Former Tamil Nadu Highways Minister and DMK MLA E.V. Velu appeared before the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in Chennai on July 15 for questioning in connection with an alleged ₹3.23 crore highway scam in Karur district.

According to the FIR, tenders for road-widening, riding-quality and cross-drainage works in the Karur Highways sub-division were awarded to a contractor for about ₹7 crore in March 2022, but payments of ₹3.23 crore were released later that month even though the work was allegedly never carried out. DVAC has named Velu along with nine Highways Department engineers and another official, taking the total accused to 11.

DVAC had searched around 20 locations linked to the accused, including Velu's Chennai residence, on June 25. The Madras High Court subsequently stayed a look-out circular against him, directing him to appear before investigators on July 15 while shielding him from coercive action until July 28.

Hours before Velu's appearance, a Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed a Tamil Nadu government petition challenging the High Court's protective order, observing that the High Court had already directed Velu to join the investigation. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the state, had argued the interim order amounted to unwarranted anticipatory bail.

Velu had earlier said he would fully cooperate with the probe. Officials said he was being questioned on the execution of the road project, the expenditure approval process and documents seized during the June searches.