Tirunelveli PRO suspended on graft charge

Arumugaselvi, grand daughter of legendary freedom fighter V.O.Chidambaram Pillai, was given the job under the AIADMK regime in 2005. She rose from being a curator to a PRO and was appointed in Tirunelveli district. Of late many corruption charges were levelled against her. 

Recently there were charges against her for giving permission to conduct exhibitions at Puliyankulam and Alankulam. Based on the charges Collector had issued suspension order under rule 17(e) of Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules with immediate effect. 

Sources at PRO office at Tirunelveli claimed that Arumugaselvi had obtained Rs.3 lakhs to give permission to set-up an exhibition at Tenkasi for which the Collector had rejected permission. She also gave oral permission to set-up similar exhibitions at Puliyangudi and Alangulam claimed sources. A section of journalists in Tirunelveli had thanked the Collector for suspending the PRO. They claimed that the PRO had acted against the interest of the journalists and supported the politicians. 

However, Arumugaselvi had refuted the graft charges levelled against her. She claimed that she had not obtained any amount for Tenkasi exhibition. She also refuted the claims of the Collector that she had given oral permission for setting up exhibitions at Alankulam and Puliyangudi. She also said that the Collector had not asked any explanation from her about the charges levelled against her and did not even inform the higher officials of her department.