4 Aavin officials under DVAC scanner

The accused were identified as Sri Renganathadurai, former assistant general manager (finance), (2018-June 2020), Tirunelveli District Milk Producers’ Co-Operative Union; Chitra Devi, former deputy registrar (Sept 2017-April 2020), Dairying, Virudhunagar; Dr Mythili, assistant general manager (March 2015-August 2020), Veterinary (Organiser), Aavin Madhavaram; and Dr Dhanabalan, who was a special grade manager (1993-February 2020), Aavin Tirunelveli. The suspects were members of the interview committee to select Extension Officer Grade II and Junior Executive Officer in Tirunelveli Milk Producers’ Co-Operative Union.

K Murugesan, one of eligible candidates who was not selected, complained to the DVAC officials that he was not selected for his refusal to pay a bribe of Rs 5 lakh that was demanded by AGM Ranganathadurai. However, the official reason given to Murugesan was that he was disqualified because of his failure to produce an experience certificate.

However, it was later revealed that four other candidates namely G Govindaraj, Ziporakalarani, lmmanuvel Devasahayam and Ponvixon were appointed to the posts though they, too, did not produce experience certificates.

In the FIR, the agency noted that the candidates who were selected had not only failed to produce experience certificates, but they even had some black remarks during their service, as they had worked in Aavin at various capacities.

The four suspects who were in the interview panel had rejected eligible candidates and selected ineligible candidates by consciously aiding and abetting with each other and collected bribe from the latter group that complied with the demand of Rs 5 lakh. The DVAC said these suspects prima facie abused their official position as public servants and committed offences punishable under Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections, DVAC said