DVAC Raids 25 Locations Linked to Ex-Minister K N Nehru in Rs 634-Crore Job Scam

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Thursday conducted searches at 25 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to former minister and DMK leader K N Nehru in connection with an alleged Rs 634-crore cash-for-jobs scam.

The raids follow the registration of a case against Nehru and others after the Madras High Court directed a comprehensive probe based on materials provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The ED had flagged alleged irregularities to the state police in October 2025. The investigation focuses on allegations that bribes were systematically collected from candidates in exchange for government jobs in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department during Nehru’s tenure as minister.

DVAC officials are examining documents, financial records and other materials at the targeted locations to trace the suspected money trail and gather evidence related to the recruitment process. The searches come a day after Nehru approached the Supreme Court with a Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court’s October 26 order dismissing his review petition against the registration of the FIR.

Reacting to the raids, DMK president M K Stalin accused the TVK government of political vendetta, describing the action as “Vettri Vendetta Politics”. In a post on X, Stalin alleged that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s government was attempting to divert public and media attention from the state’s law-and-order situation, which he claimed had left women, children and the elderly unsafe.

He accused the ruling party of selectively targeting former DMK ministers while allegedly shielding corrupt individuals. Stalin also claimed the searches were intended to generate publicity ahead of the Tiruchirappalli East by-election, describing them as a “raidshow” designed to produce social media videos and political messaging.

The DMK chief further criticised the government over administrative shortcomings and rising prices, asserting that his party’s grassroots workers would not be intimidated by the searches.

The investigation into the alleged recruitment scam is continuing.