DVAC reopens corruption case against former Minister R. Vaithilingam

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Former Minister R. Vaithilingam. File | Photo Credit: R. Vengadesh

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has reopened its investigation into an alleged ₹27.9-crore bribery case against former Minister for Housing and Urban Development R. Vaithilingam.

The agency had registered a case against Mr. Vaithilingam on September 19, 2024, for an alleged offence committed by him while serving as the Minister in former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s Cabinet during 2011-16.

While the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) opened an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on October 1, 2024, based on the DVAC case, and initiated investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, the latter agency filed a closure report in the case before the Principal District and Sessions Court.

However, the ED completed its probe and filed a prosecution complaint before the Sessions Court. The central agency filed a protest petition before the designated court objecting to the decision of the DVAC to close the bribery case against the former Minister.

Mr. Vaithilingam resigned his post as AIADMK MLA in January this year and joined the DMK, which was then in power, and the closure report was filed in the court during the last week of February.

A top official in the DVAC confirmed that the agency had written to the Principal District Judge that the corruption case against Mr. Vaithilingam was being reopened.