ED raids BJP, AIADMK leaders’ houses in Pudukottai
Sources said that Muruganandam and his brothers involved in government contract works during previous AIADMK tenure.
CRPF personnel standing guard at the house of Muruganandam in Pudukkotai during the ED raid
TIRUCHY: Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths raided the residences of the BJP's Pudukkottai district treasurer and two of his brothers, including an AIADMK functionary, on Friday.
Pudukkottai North District BJP treasurer Muruganandam (53), a businessman residing in Pudukkottai town, was at the centre of the raids. The premises of his younger brother Palanivel (50), Pudukkottai district AIADMK youth wing secretary, and his elder brother Ravichandran (55), Deputy Block Development Officer in Karambakudi, were also raided.
Muruganandam and Palanivel were reportedly linked to Public Works Department (PWD) contract works installing solar streetlights during the previous AIADMK tenure. There were complaints of irregularities, and the present DMK government filed a Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) case against Muruganandam in 2021 and conducted a search of his house subsequently.
In such a backdrop, on Friday, around 7.30 am, a team of ED officials came to Pudukkottai in nine vehicles and conducted a simultaneous search at the house of Muruganandam at Charles Nagar in Pudukkottai, the residences of Muruganandam, Palanivel, and Ravichandran at Kadukkakadu near Karambakudi in Pudukkottai, and the house of Palanivel, an associate of Muruganandam, at KVS Street in Alangudi.
The siblings are accused of making illegal money transactions, which brought them under the ED's radar. Sources said the ED search was held based on the DVAC raids. A company of CRPF personnel accompanied the ED team, providing protection to the probe team. Raids lasted until 2.30 pm, and several documents were seized.
Sources said Muruganandam, who was initially working as a clerk at Veppankudi panchayat and in the office of the Assistant Director of Panchayats, managed to maintain a close association with the then Local Administration Minister SP Velumani. Later, he got a voluntary retirement from service to run a business and took government tenders.
When the DMK came to power in 2021, the DVAC registered a case against Muruganandam for amassing wealth disproportionate to his source of income. Soon, he joined the BJP in the presence of State President K Annamalai and was given the post of district treasurer.