TN: DVAC raids house of ex-Assembly secretary

The sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption raided houses of four persons, including the house of the former secretary of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, following claims of malpractice during his tenure allegedly causing loss of lakhs  of rupees to the government.

Police said a DVAC team headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police conducted raids in the house of M Selvaraj, secretary (retired), Legislative Assembly Secretariat, at his apartment in Shenoy Nagar.

Separate teams also raided the houses of PSK Singaravelu, committee officer, Legislative Assembly, at Solaiamman Koil Street, Aynavaram, S Balakrishnan, section officer, at LIC Colony, Pammal, and K Indira, joint secretary (retired), at West Mambalam.

Police said incriminating documents were seized and further investigations were on. Police sources said that Selvaraj was involved in various incidents of malpractice while serving as secretary between August 2007 and March 2011.

He reportedly furnished false accounts pertaining to what he called an official trip to New Delhi and claimed `75,319 towards the travel, though the trip was personal. Selvaraj also reportedly violated the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Legislators Hostel (accommodation) Rules, 1969 by allegedly allotting rooms in the multi-storey MLA hostel illegally to unauthorised persons for free, thereby causing a loss to the tune of `1.90 lakh to the government, police added.

Police sources also said that he hired vehicles from private travels firms for the use of his family members and allegedly claimed the amount from the government funds. He also allegedly issued work orders for repairing official vehicles to private workshops. DVAC officials also said that Selvaraj allegedly conspired with Balakrishnan, Singaravelu, and Indira, and issued work order to one C Amaldas of Virugambakkam for carrying out painting and repair of steel book racks and almirahs at the Assembly

library. Without actually performing the work, they falsely claimed an amount of `3.90 lakh stating that it was carried out properly, officials added.

A case was registered under various Sections of the IPC, including 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 477-A (falsification of accounts), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent) and under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.