Minister K.N. Nehru rebuts ED’s ₹1,020 crore bribery charge, EPS seeks action

With the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) reportedly writing to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and DGP in-charge alleging a ₹1,020 crore bribery scam in the Municipal Administration and Water Supplies (MAWS) Department, K.N. Nehru, the Minister concerned, on Monday claimed the agency was on a political hit job.

Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami, however, demanded a probe into the allegation.

Mr. Nehru in a statement said it was highly condemnable that the ED had joined the “opposition”, which could not stomach the achievements of the ‘Dravidian Model’ government, and was targeting him. “The ED has become a tool in the hands of the BJP and is indulging in a smear campaign against me,” he alleged.

Mr. Nehru said his ministry had laid roads covering 24,752 km and had supplied protected drinking water schemes for 1.22 crore people. “We are also implementing schemes for over 77 lakh people. The AIADMK government had not made any achievements, and States ruled by the BJP also could not implement such schemes. That is why the ED is not able to take a positive view of my ministry’s achievements,” he said.

Mr. Nehru said his ministry had unparalleled achievements and the ED, “instigated by the BJP”, was ready to believe baseless allegations against him. “It has been instigated for political reasons. We will not fear the lies and smear campaign of the BJP–AIADMK combine. I will legally face the allegations against me,” he said.

However, AIADMK leader Mr Palaniswami claimed the “revelations” in the ED communication have confirmed what the people of Tamil Nadu have long suspected – that the Stalin-model government is “a commission–collection–corruption regime running at full speed.”

He alleged these revelations come even as the DMK government failed to act on the “₹888 crore ‘Cash for Jobs’ scam already forwarded by the ED”. In a statement, he said, “Instead of dismissing the accused minister and ordering a fair probe, the DMK government has been protecting the corrupt.” He challenged Chief Minister M K Stalin to prove that he has nothing to hide by ordering an “impartial” investigation into all allegations flagged by the ED. “Will Mr. Stalin dare to order an honest probe? The people of Tamil Nadu are waiting for his answer,” he said.