E.V. Velu, others booked for illegal excavation of lake bed to level venue for party event

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a case against E.V. Velu, DMK MLA and formerly Minister for Highways, Minor Ports, and Public Works, his son E.V. Kumaran, other public servants, and contractors, among others on charges of unauthorised excavation of lake-bed material in Malappambadi village in Tiruvannamalai district for levelling the venue of a DMK Northern Zone Youth Wing Conference held in December 2025.

The case was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Jayaram Venkatesan, convener, Arappor Iyakkam.

The allegation is that Mr. Velu misused his official position and facilitated excavation and removal of lake-bed material from Malappambadi Lake, covering about 12 acres.

The material was excavated to a depth of about 10-23 feet from November 2025 to the first week of December 2025, for levelling the conference venue, with the active connivance of the Revenue, Collectorate, Corporation, and other officials concerned.

Around 45,72,058 cubic feet of lake-bed sand was alleged to have been transported from about 8 acres of the lake, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹8.22 crore to the exchequer.

Illegal approach road

It was also alleged that an approach road was illegally expanded and laid over and through the tank bund and foreshore area of the Malappambadi Lake up to the entrance gate of the family property of Mr. Velu, where the conference was conducted.

Permission was not obtained from the Revenue Department, Corporation, or Geology and Mining Department, Tiruvannamalai District, for the excavation and removal of gravel/lake-bed material from the waterbody.

During the verification conducted with the assistance of the Revenue and Geology and Mining Department officials concerned, unauthorised excavation/mining of soil and gravel was found at various locations within the lake area, thereby corroborating the allegation of illegal excavation.

In November 2025, Arul Arumugam, a former office-bearer of an organisation, submitted petitions to the district authorities alleging illegal excavation. However, no effective action was initiated to stop the excavation, ascertain the extent of unauthorised extraction, identify the persons responsible, or initiate appropriate proceedings.

Despite information and complaints regarding the unauthorised excavation, the officials failed to take effective action.

“Such deliberate and wilful inaction, despite knowledge of the illegal excavation, prima facie indicates connivance with the persons involved and intentional failure to discharge their statutory duties, thereby facilitating and enabling the illegal excavation and removal of lake-bed material,” the DVAC said in its FIR.