E.V. Velu. File
| Photo Credit: M. Srinath
The Madras High Court on Thursday (July 9, 2026) stayed the operation of a Look Out Circular (LoC) issued against former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Minister E.V. Velu in connection with a recent case registered against him by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan granted the interim stay on the condition that Mr. Velu must appear before the investigating officer for inquiry on July 15, 2026. The judge took note that the petitioner was at present in Singapore for medical treatment and was slated to return to India only on July 12, 2026.
The judge also restrained the DVAC from taking coercive action against the petitioner till July 28, 2026, by when the investigating agency was expected to file its counter affidavit in response to the former Minister’s plea to quash the First Information Report (FIR) registered on June 26, 2026.
The interim orders were passed after hearing senior counsel Siddharth Luthra and P. Wilson for Mr. Velu and Government Counsel (criminal side) R. John Sathyan for the DVAC. The petitioner’s counsel contended that the FIR had been registered without obtaining the Governor’s consent.
Further, highlighting that the FIR had been registered in 2026 for an alleged offence of private contractors in the State highways department having been paid money even before the laying of roads in many districts in 2022, they said, there was also an inordinate delay of four years in registering the case.
Mr. Wilson said, the former Minister had cooperated with the DVAC when it conducted raids at his residence immediately after the registration of the FIR and thereafter, left for Singapore for availing medical treatment. However, the DVAC had served summons at his residence on June 30, 2026.
The first summons required him to appear before the investigating officer for inquiry on July 3, 2026. The petitioner replied that he would be returning to India only on July 12, 2026. Yet, the DVAC issued another summons on July 4, 2026 and this time, he was asked to appear on July 9, 2026.
“The second summon specifically stated that failure to attend the inquiry today (July 9, 2026) would render the petitioner liable for arrest. Therefore, there is an imminent necessity to protect the life and liberty of the petitioner. His over 70 years old and a heart patient,” the senior counsel told the court.
On the other hand, Mr. Sathyan contended that there was no necessity for the Governor to accord sanction for registering the FIR in the present case and that it was sufficient if the Chief Minister had accorded sanction. He also said, the complainant Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam had not been included as a respondent in the present petitions filed for quashing the FIR and rescinding the LoC.
After hearing the oral arguments advanced by both sides, the judge granted time till July 28, 2026 for the DVAC to file its counter affidavits and passed the interim orders.
Published – July 09, 2026 02:53 pm IST
