The Madras high court on Monday observed that it might not accept the report of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) giving clean chit to former local administration minister S P Velumani if the court finds out that ‘day has been turned into night’.
 
“If there are only stark allegations that cry out for action to be taken we will interfere.
 
If there are only small little things, then that does not interest the court. If the government has accepted, the court will not interfere but if day has been turned into night then the court will not accept the same,” the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said.
 
The court made the observation while responding to a submission of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi representing the former minister that once the state government has accepted the report of the DVAC nothing else remains.
 
In a major embrassment to former Minister who is close aide to then CM Palanisamy and who also  emerged as strongmen  in ADMK party the bench said  “It is the government which has accepted the report, the court might not have accepted the report” 
 
It is to be noted dealing with the issue earlier, another Bench led by Justice M. Sathyanarayanan had appointed Superintendent of Police R. Ponni of the DVAC to conduct the preliminary inquiry.
 
Accordingly, the officer conducted a detailed probe and filed a report to DVAC Director Vijay Kumar on December 18, 2019, stating that no case had been made out for registration of FIR.
 
IT is to be noted during this period ADMK was ruling and its party strong men Minster Velumani who was facing the allegations against whom the inquiry report was approved by the Director and forwarded to the Vigilance Commissioner on January 13 this year.
 
The Vigilance Commissioner, too, endorsed the report on January 18 and moved it to the government, which accepted the report on January 22 and dropped all further proceedings on the complaints lodged against the Minister.
 
The issue pertains to a PIL moved by NGO Arappor Iyakkam and also DMK MP R.S. Bharath to register an FIR and order a probe by a special investigating team (SIT) against Velumani for corruption in allotting tenders of Chennai and Coimbatore corporations.
 
Earlier representing the petitioner, advocate V Suresh submitted that the petitioner has filed a series of counter against the DVAC report.
 
Since he wanted to make his submission in a physical hearing, the court adjourned the plea after four weeks.
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After the election results for  2021 assembly the  DMK Party that has resounding victory over ADMK and  has taken over the government  during May 2021 .
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Considering the change in power it is highly  opined  in legal circles of change in stand of regulating bodies on cards . 
 
Earlier  the Madras High Court during January this year has stated it is mulling over the possibility of ordering a fresh preliminary inquiry by an “independent agency” into allegations of largescale irregularities by Municipal Administration and Rural Development Minister S.P. Velumani in award of several civil work contracts to private firms by the Greater Chennai and Coimbatore municipal corporations.