Officials from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, conducted searches at the premises of former Panruti Municipal Chairman P. Paneerselvam’s residence, as well as a few other places belonging to his associates.
Mr. Panneerselvam is the husband of former Panruti MLA Satya Panneerselvam, and was chairman of the Panruti Municipality in Cuddalore district from 2011-16.
DVAC sources said searches were conducted at five places in Panruti and one in Chennai. The DVAC personnel, led by Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police N. Devanathan arrived at the house of Mr. Panneerselvam at dawn. The searches are a sequel to a case registered by the Cuddalore unit of DVAC against Mr. Panneerselvam and then Commissioner of Panruti Municipality Perumal, over alleged financial irregularities in the allotment of a cycle stand belonging to the local body.
One team also conducted searches at the residence of Mr. Perumal in Chennai.
A DVAC official said that Mr. Panneerselvam and Mr. Perumal had indulged in financial irregularities to the tune of ₹20 lakh while auctioning the cycle stand to a contractor. A case was booked against Mr. Pannerselvam and Mr. Perumal under sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) and 13(1 )(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The DVAC said that the searches on Wednesday led to the seizure of 47 land and property documents valued at ₹15.64 crore. Further investigations are on.
