The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu ordered the transfer of the Tambaram Corporation Commissioner and placed him under compulsory wait on a Thursday, following a complaint by the anti‑corruption outfit Arappor Iyakkam that two municipal works totaling Rs 45 lakh had been completed before the tender deadline.
Arappor’s Convenor Jayaram Venkatesan told a media brief that the contracts were “pre‑fixed” and the tender was a sham. He added that both the contractor and the commissioner were complicit, echoing the group’s claim that the two projects were awarded without a fair bidding process.
The state government said no work order had been issued and no public funds were spent on the projects, but it will conduct a probe by the Director of Municipal Administration. The assistant executive engineer involved has already been suspended pending the investigation.
The allegation has ignited a political backlash. The DMK has demanded a probe by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption, while the ruling Tamil Viduthalai Kamaraj (TVK) party’s spokesperson, Dr M Sathyakumar, vowed that anyone found guilty would face consequences. He also confirmed that HR Minister Sarathkumar, who inaugurated the works, would be examined.
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the government pledging transparency and accountability in its municipal procurement processes.