The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Saturday, September 5, conducted simultaneous searches at 30 locations in Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Erode and Tiruppur in connection with alleged irregularities in tenders awarded by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department between 2021 and 2025, when former Minister KN Nehru held the portfolio.
Properties linked to Nehru, his brothers and others were among those searched. The searches were based on an FIR registered by the DVAC Headquarters in Chennai against Nehru and 12 others over allegations including collection of party funds from tender awardees.
The DVAC said it seized 241 documents and electronic evidence allegedly linked to irregularities in the tender process. According to a Times of India report, the searches were based on a communication sent by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the State government on December 3, 2025, alleging large-scale manipulation of MAWS tenders. The ED had alleged that at least Rs 1,020 crore was collected as bribes and commissions through manipulation of contracts.
In Trichy, a DVAC team led by a woman Deputy Superintendent of Police searched Nehru’s residence in Thillai Nagar from around 8 am to 3 pm. His former personal assistant Manikandan’s residence in Srirangam and the residence of former Corporation Chief Engineer Sivapatham in Shanmuga Nagar were also searched.
After the search, Nehru told reporters that he had extended full cooperation to the officials and denied having spoken to anyone regarding the tenders. He said the officials had taken a copy of what he described as a “routine” office file. He alleged that the searches were politically motivated.
“Politically speaking, they are attempting to threaten us. We will face the case legally and come out clean,” Nehru said.
Nehru said the officials had told him that there was a flaw in a tender based on which the FIR had been registered. He claimed that the search teams could not find anything significant at his premises.
DMK president MK Stalin condemned the searches and alleged that they were politically motivated. In a social media post, Stalin questioned the timing of the searches, pointing out that the Assembly was in session and that related matters were pending before the High Court.
Stalin also alleged that the ruling party was attempting to divert public attention from allegations of “horse trading” involving MLAs. “The government has conducted the raids to divert attention when Indian democracy is heading towards a dark period. The DMK and Nehru will not be cowed down by these acts. We will challenge them legally,” he said.
DMK deputy general secretary and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi also condemned the searches, describing them as “the height of vindictiveness”. She alleged that the government was unable to politically confront the DMK in the Assembly and was instead resorting to “continuous slander and diversionary tactics”.
“DMK will never be intimidated by actions of the anti-democratic govt, which is misusing its power to strangle the opposition,” Kanimozhi said in a post on X.
The allegations of political vendetta were rejected by Electricity, Energy Resources and Law Minister CTR Nirmalkumar. He said the searches were conducted as part of the DVAC's procedure and based on evidence.
“There is absolutely no political vendetta behind this. No one has the right to interfere in the functioning of the DVAC,” Nirmalkumar said.
In Chennai, searches were conducted at Nehru’s residence in Mylapore and premises linked to him and his brothers in areas including Thiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Anna Nagar and Raja Annamalaipuram.
In Coimbatore, DVAC officials searched the residences of Nehru’s brothers Manivannan and Ravichandran. The residence of a retired Corporation Town Planning Officer was also searched. A real-estate office owned by Manivannan and premises linked to alleged irregularities in building and layout approvals were also searched.
Searches were also conducted at the residence and office of contractor R Velumani in Tiruppur, as well as the premises of a construction firm in Kangeyam. In Erode, DVAC searched the office of a private construction company on Perundurai Road and the residence of its owner in Palayapalayam.
The case invokes provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and cheating.