ED Seeks FIR Over Alleged Rs 1,020 Crore Tender Racket Linked to Tamil Nadu Minister K.N. Nehru

Overview

• The Enforcement Directorate asked the Chief Secretary, the DGP and the DVAC on December 3 to register an FIR under PMLA Section 66(2) to enable a money-laundering probe.
• Investigators cite WhatsApp chats and calculation sheets allegedly showing contractors paying 7.5% to 10% of contract values to associates of the minister through pre-decided tenders.
• The dossier describes bribe collections across works such as community toilets, sanitation outsourcing, NABARD projects, sweeper quarters, village roads and lake-related contracts, with officials allegedly extracting 20% to 25% at approval stages.
• ED warned that failure to register a case could amount to assisting accused persons, referencing the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary Supreme Court ruling.
• K.N. Nehru dismissed the notice as baseless, opposition leaders called for action, and there was no public indication of an FIR being filed as of the latest reports.