AIADMK's KT Rajenthra Bhalaji under DVAC radar over Aavin recruitment lapses

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) is set to probe former dairy minister of Tamil Nadu, KT Rajenthra Bhalaji of AIADMK for alleged lapses and irregularities in the recruitment process of 236 candidates in Aavin between January and June 2021.

Aavin is a statutory body under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying of Tamil Nadu government and supplies milk and dairy products to the people of the state.

Soon after the DMK came to power, there were several complaints against the previous AIADMK government that the appointment of 410 people at Aavin were made after receiving bribes. The complainants had alleged that the posts were given to only those who paid a bribe between ₹10-40 lakhs.

The Aavin management conducted an internal inquiry on the said appointments to check if they were done as per the by-law of Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited.

The internal inquiry report, a copy of which is with The Federal, revealed that there were serious lapses in the recruitment process at eight regional Aavin unions and that the administrative approval was not obtained from the Commissioner for Milk Production and Dairy Development.

According to the report, officials also manipulated the test marks of the candidates to recruit them.

“Candidates selected for the post of Deputy Manager (dairy chemist) have scored 29 marks in the written test as per the evaluation sheet received from the institution but in the interview committee report it has been recorded as 31 marks and offered appointment,” the report read.

The inquiry also revealed that 15 days time for written test and 15 days time for interview was not given to candidates as per the official circular.

“Everything was done in a hasty manner to finish the recruitment process as soon as possible. It was done at the behest of people at the interview committee,”an official at Aavin in the western region of Tamil Nadu said on condition of anonymity.

The report also revealed that the candidate selected for the post of Deputy Manager (Dairying) possess B.Sc.(Home Science), M.A (Sociology), PG Diploma in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics qualification but the qualification mandated in the special by-laws and notification mandates that the candidate possess post graduate degree in dairy science or B.Tech in food technology/ dairy technology food processing.

The report concluded that disciplinary action may be taken against erring officials and also recommended the DVAC to take up the inquiry.

DVAC has launched an inquiry into the matter. An official with the DVAC told The Federal that they have sought additional information from Aavin.

“There were complaints against the minister as well as a few officials. We have also sought the original complaints filed at Aavin,” the official said.

During the said appointments, KT Rajenthra Bhalaji of AIADMK was holding the ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying department in Tamil Nadu.

With this, Rajenthra Bhalaji becomes the sixth minister to come under the DVAC radar since DMK came to power in 2021.

It may also be recalled that in January 2022, Rajenthra Bhalaji was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police for misappropriating ₹3 crore funds from Aavin during his tenure as the minister.