Political vendetta, claims ex-AIADMK minister after raids at his house on graft charges

Former AIADMK minister SP Velumani alleged political vendetta as the reason behind the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) raids on his properties.

AIADMK minister SP Velumani claimed that the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) conducted raids on his properties over political vendetta. The DVAC, on Tuesday, conducted raids on properties associated with former AIADMK ministers Vijayabaskar and SP Velumani.

Velumani claimed that he, along with Thangamani and CV Shanmugam, were instrumental in making EPS as CM and that’s where all these political vendettas began.

“Instead of fulfilling his promises, such things are happening here. This raid has occurred after we raised the EB bill price increase,” alleged SP Velumani.

DVAC is investigating former Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani for allegedly swindling money while replacing old street lights with LED lights between 2015-2018 by fixing a very high rate for LED lights, leading to a Rs 500 crore loss to the exchequer.

Velumani claimed that Rs 7,100 was recovered in the third raid. The former minister said that he is not aware of the raids at other people’s residence and that he doesn’t know them.

SP Velumani said that the “DMK Government conducts raid whenever it is in trouble.”

“A new FIR has been registered involving LED purchase. This was brought by Amma to reduce electricity consumption by saving Rs 400. All these tenders were monitored and done properly by tender committee and officials. But without any proof, such raids are being conducted for political reasons,” stated SP Velumani.