Chennai: DMK president M.K. Stalin who has accused Municipal Administration Minister S. P. Velumani of resorting to favouritism in finalising tenders for the Smart Cities project, had demanded the sacking of the Minister to facilitate a fair probe by the DVAC.
His party had also preferred a complaint with the Director of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) on Monday seeking the registration of criminal cases against the Minister and his benamis.
Contending that Mr Velumani had no moral right to continue in office, the DMK chief said most tenders in the Minister's departments have been awarded to people close to him. "Action should be taken against Velumani and all those who had been party to the scam," he said and demanded the State government to remove Mr Velumani from his post. Also, he demanded appropriate action on Chandraprakash whom Mr Stalin alleged had intimidated scribes who tried to expose the 'mega scam' in awarding tenders to the close kith and kin of the minister.
Meanwhile, in a complaint to the DVAC, DMK organisation secretary and party MP R. S. Bharathi, said Mr. Velumani had placed his benamis as directors in some companies shortly before contracts were awarded by the Corporations of Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruppur and Tiruchirapalli, Government of Tamil Nadu, Public Works Department, Chennai Metro Rail Ltd and Chennai Smart City Ltd. He "abused his official position and exercised his personal influence as a Minister to obtain contracts for these companies from the above-mentioned Government entities, resulting in misappropriation of public funds and accumulation of disproportionate assets.
Mr. Bharathi mentioned the names of beneficiary companies as: KCP Engineers Pvt. Ltd., P. Senthil & Co., Vardhan Infrastructure, Constronics India, Aalayam Foundation Pvt. Ltd., Constromall Goods Pvt. Ltd., Invicta Meditek Ltd., and demanded that the DVAC register a case against Mr. Velumani, his benamis and officials who colluded and carry forward the case as per Law.
