Dhinakaran, Anbumani call for probe into claims of irregularities in grain transport

In the wake of media reports on alleged irregularities in contracts awarded to transport grain sacks from direct procurement centres (DPC) to godowns and mills over the past year, AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Friday (October 31, 2025) called for a detailed investigation into the issue, and demanded that severe action be taken against those involved.

Mr. Dhinakaran, in a social media post, referred to allegations of irregularities to the tune of ₹160 crore over the movement of paddy bags from warehouses to other districts. While Tamil Nadu government authorities fixed a rate of ₹598 for moving a tonne of paddy, some contractors have claimed only ₹186 was paid to them, he said.

Mr. Dhinakaran further alleged that procured paddy at DPCs remained there for 30 to 40 days, though it should have been moved out of the centre within 48 hours of purchase. This is affecting the livelihood of farmers, he contended.

Anbumani demands CBI probe

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, meanwhile, demanded a CBI probe into the allegations of corruption. In a statement, he said that around 3,200 lorries were used to transport paddy sacks procured by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation to rice mills and to other districts and alleged that each lorry has been paid 321% more than usual.

“The contracts have been given only to three companies – Muruga Enterprises, Kandasamy and Co, and Karthikeya Enterprises. These contracts used to be given locally, but last year, the rules to award contracts were changed to favour these three companies,” he said. There are reports that these three companies used 19 other sub-contractors to swindle crores of rupees, he added.

Mr. Anbumani charged that DMK has always engaged in “scientific corruption” in every department. “The rules for the contracts were changed in such a way that other companies could not participate in the tender process,” he alleged.

He further reiterated that the CBI should investigate these allegations.