Court orders CBI probe in plea against corruption in Palaniswami's portfolio

The Madras High Court has ordered a transfer of probe into allegation of irregularities in awarding highway tender contracts to the kin of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court has also directed the probe agency to complete the investigation in three months.

The transfer of probe was confirmed by counsellors of the DMK, which has been taking forward corruption charges against ministers in the ruling AIADMK cabinet.

According to the counsellors, the Madras High Court has given the DVAC time of one week to "hand over relevant documents to the CBI," besides directing the CBI to also include World Bank officials in its ambit of inquiry.


The case pertains to award of certain Highway contracts to companies with alleged links to the chief minister Palaniswami.

This is the second case spearheaded by the DMK and social pressure group Arappor Iyakkam that has been transferred to the CBI as the Madras High Court had directed a similar transfer of probe in the case of payoffs to Government functionaries, police officers and even ministers in enabling sale of banned substance Gutkha.