CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to complete the investigation of corruption allegations against former Food and Civil Supplies Minister R Kamaraj of AIADMK within six months.

The State Public Prosecutor (SPP) Hasan Mohammed Jinnah appeared before the Justice AD Jagadish Chandira and submitted that a detailed inquiry is under way and the DVAC had started collecting the evidence and documents in this regard. The prosecutor, citing the voluminous number of documents running to more than 24,000 pages, sought more time to complete the probe.

In objection to this, V Suresh, the counsel for Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, noted that the DVAC has not taken any steps in this case for the past two years, hence it should not be given additional time.

We had segregated every document, regarding the corruption, received through RTI in our affidavit and had also stated the loss to the State exchequer and the details of the corruption, but no action had been taken, argued the counsel.

The DVAC has to collect documents from relevant departments and needs to record the statements of the complainant, hence sought time, submitted Hasan Jinnah. He also noted that one of the complainants, Va Pugazhendi will be inquired in a week regarding the allegation. After the submission, the judge directed the DVAC to conclude the investigation in six months and disposed of the petition.

Va Pugazhendi moved the high court seeking to direct the DVAC to take action against former minister Kamaraj for indulging in various ‘nefarious’ activities and looting Rs 350 crores of public money.

The Arappor Iyakkam also filed a petition to take action regarding the complaint given by the NGO in 2018 against Kamaraj, alleging that he looted Rs 2,028 crores of public money while procuring dal, sugar, and other essential commodities.