Likely saving Rs 40 lakh, AIADMK former minister's wealth is ₹58 crore, claims DVAC

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) unit of Tamil Nadu on Friday (July 8) raided 52 locations linked to former AIADMK minister R Kamaraj and his associates on charges of amassing wealth to the tune of ₹58.44 crore, disproportionate to known sources of income between 2015 and 2021.

The DVAC also seized unaccounted cash of ₹15.50 lakh apart from bank locker keys and other electronic gadgets.

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The agency raided 52 locations in Chennai, Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli and his residence in Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district in Tamil Nadu. According to the FIR filed by the DVAC, between 2011 and 2021, Kamaraj, his sons Inban, Iniyan, and his associates accumulated wealth to the tune of ₹58.84 crore when their likely savings could be ₹40 lakh.

After a day-long raid at 52 locations, DVAC found about ₹41.06 lakh, gold jewels, 23.96 kg silver, iPhone, laptop, and hard disks. DVAC seized unaccounted cash of ₹15.50 lakh, bank locker keys, iPhone, laptop, pen drive, and other documents relevant to the case.

“The detailed inquiry discloses that R Kamaraj’s huge wealth in the form of assets/shares, pecuniary resources and properties in the form of buildings, agriculture lands, gold jewels, motor vehicles, fixed deposits, investments in companies, and intentionally enriched himself during the period of his office.” the FIR read.

Kamaraj was minister for Food and Civil supplies department between 2011 and 2021 and he also held the portfolio of Hindu religious and charitable endowments department for a brief period between January 2015 and May 2016.

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According to the DVAC, Kamaraj also accumulated assets in the form of NARC Hotels Private Limited. “Along with this firm, he has also held several other properties in benami name,” a DVAC official said.

On July 7, the DVAC filed an FIR against Kamaraj, his sons Iniyan, Inban and three others under various sections including section 120(B) (Criminal Conspiracy to commit an offence) of the Indian Penal Code, section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Since DMK came back to power in 2021, Kamaraj is the seventh former AIADMK minister to be booked by the DVAC. Since May 2021, DVAC has slapped disproportionate assets cases against six former AIADMK ministers – SP Velumani, Thangamani, KC Veeramani, C Vijayabhaskar, MR Vijayabhaskar, and Angazhagan.

Though the DVAC has been raiding former ministers’ several places, none of them was neither arrested nor a charge sheet was filed in any of the cases filed against the former AIADMK ministers.

Meanwhile, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami has condemned the raids and called the move vendetta politics. “Instead of cornering the AIADMK’s former minister, the DMK would better concentrate on the welfare of the people in the state,” Palaniswami said.