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Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ED cracks down on babus taking bribes for influencing contracts
Representative image NEW DELHI: From Chennai to Patna, Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a series of actions against bureaucrats and middlemen allegedly involved in taking bribes for influencing award of govt contracts. In one case, the agency Friday carried out searches at 16 locations in Chennai associated with various state officials and middlemen in connection with irregularities in award of govt contracts in Tamil Nadu. Operation Sindoor Armed forces maintaining strong vigil after Pak ceasefire breach: MEA Pakistan violates ceasefire: Loud explosions, sirens haunt J&K- what we know so far Behind the scenes of ceasefire: Calls from Pakistan, Washington Around Rs 5 crore was seized during the searches. "The searches unearthed a deep-rooted and systemic corruption network involving prominent consultants across key govt departments. Evidence reveals that consultants/brokers acted as middlemen, floated shell companies and consultancy firms through which kickbacks were routed under the guise of service fees and consultancy payments," ED said. In another case related to irregularities in procurement of medical items in Patna Medical College and Hospital, ED attached 10 properties and other assets worth Rs 3 crore of various suppliers in Greater Noida, Patna and Darbhanga. The attachment in this case has exceeded Rs 6 crore, with over Rs 3 crore of assets attached earlier. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like At 82, she dances, dresses as she wishes and dismisses her 'old-fashioned' critics CNA Read More Undo PMCH case relates to procurement of medicines, reagents, machines and equipment at exorbitant rates and in higher quantities. Former PMCH superintendent OP Choudhary is one of the accused in the case. The alleged irregularities were committed during 2008-10. ED said the total irregularities and loss to govt has been estimated to be over Rs 12 crore. Bihar vigilance department has also filed a case and chargesheet against the accused persons. In the Chennai case, ED conducted searches in Chennai and Vellore on May 6 at 16 at premises associated with certain officers and prominent consultants engaged with Tamil Nadu govt departments. ED's money laundering case is based on an FIR by state vigilance department that had booked S Pandian, superintendent in the state's environment department, and others in an alleged disproportionate assets case. The agency claimed the web of corruption was found to operate through fixed commissions paid to officials for obtaining illegal and expedited clearances. ED said its investigation in the Chennai case has "confirmed the role of key consultants: Prabhakar Sigamony, AK Nathan, Naveen Kumar, Santhosh Kumar and Vinoth Kumar, in facilitating illegal approvals". Unaccounted cash of Rs 4.7 crore, intended for bribe payments, was seized during the searches, it added.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- New Indian Express
ED: Unearthed web of corrupt consultants in TN depts, seized Rs 4.7 crore
CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it has unearthed a deep-rooted corruption network involving several prominent consultants across key state government departments while probing a money laundering case against S Pandian, former superintendent of Department of Environment. The ED probe was launched based on a DVAC FIR against Pandian and others in a disproportionate assets case. The central agency searched 16 locations linked to Pandian and multiple consultants in Chennai and Vellore. In a statement, the ED said consultants and brokers acted as middlemen, operating shell companies and consultancy firms to route kickbacks under the guise of service fees and consultancy payments. 'This web of corruption functioned through fixed commissions paid to officials to secure illegal and quick clearances,' the agency said. The investigation had confirmed the role of key consultants — Prabhakar Sigamony, AK Nathan, Naveen Kumar, Santhosh Kumar, and Vinoth Kumar — in facilitating approvals. Unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 4.73 crore, meant for bribes, was seized during the searches, the ED said. The agency claimed to have recovered incriminating documents, digital records, and property papers indicating large-scale laundering and siphoning off illicit funds. The ED has also identified assets acquired using proceeds of crime and is in the process of quantifying and attaching them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The agency said, during the searches, an employee of a consultant damaged her phone in order to hide evidences. Action will be taken against the individual for destruction of evidence and non-cooperation, it said.
NDTV
09-05-2025
- NDTV
Deep-Rooted, Systemic Corruption Network In Key Tamil Nadu Departments: Probe Agency
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate Friday claimed to have unearthed a "deep-rooted" and systemic "corruption" network involving several consultants across key departments of the Tamil Nadu government during raids carried out earlier this week in a money-laundering case. The federal probe agency said in a statement that it also seized Rs 4.73 crore "unaccounted" cash, intended for "bribe" payments during the raids undertaken on May 6 in Chennai and Vellore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation pertains to an FIR registered by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance Anti-corruption (DVAC) against S Pandian, Superintendent of the Environment Department and some others for alleged possession of disproportionate assets. The ED searched a total of 16 premises that included those of the above named officer and various "prominent" consultants for departments of Tamil Nadu government, it said. "The searches unearthed a deep-rooted and systemic corruption network involving several prominent consultants across key government departments. "Evidences reveal that consultants/brokers acted as middlemen, floated shell companies and consultancy firms through which kickbacks were routed under the guise of service fees and consultancy payments," the ED alleged. This "web of corruption", as per the agency, operated through "fixed commissions" paid to officials for obtaining "illegal" and expedited clearances. It said investigation has "confirmed" the role of key consultants named Prabhakar Sigamony, A K Nathan, Naveen Kumar, Santhosh Kumar and Vinoth Kumar in facilitating "illegal" approvals. The agency said, during the searches, an "important" employee of a consultant "severely" damaged her phone in order to hide "evidences". Action will be taken as per law against this person for destruction of evidence and non-cooperation, it said. The ED said it has also recovered "incriminating" documents, digital records, and property documents during the raids that indicate a large-scale layering and siphoning of illicit funds.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Deep-rooted, systemic corruption network in key Tamil Nadu govt departments: ED
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate Friday claimed to have unearthed a "deep-rooted" and systemic "corruption" network involving several consultants across key departments of the Tamil Nadu government during raids carried out earlier this week in a money-laundering case. The federal probe agency said in a statement that it also seized Rs 4.73 crore "unaccounted" cash, intended for "bribe" payments during the raids undertaken on May 6 in Chennai and Vellore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation pertains to an FIR registered by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance Anti-corruption (DVAC) against S Pandian, Superintendent of the Environment Department and some others for alleged possession of disproportionate assets. The ED searched a total of 16 premises that included those of the above named officer and various "prominent" consultants for departments of Tamil Nadu government, it said. "The searches unearthed a deep-rooted and systemic corruption network involving several prominent consultants across key government departments. "Evidences reveal that consultants/brokers acted as middlemen, floated shell companies and consultancy firms through which kickbacks were routed under the guise of service fees and consultancy payments," the ED alleged.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Deep-rooted, systemic corruption network in key Tamil Nadu govt departments: ED
New Delhi, The Enforcement Directorate Friday claimed to have unearthed a "deep-rooted" and systemic "corruption" network involving several consultants across key departments of the Tamil Nadu government during raids carried out earlier this week in a money-laundering case. The federal probe agency said in a statement that it also seized ₹4.73 crore "unaccounted" cash, intended for "bribe" payments during the raids undertaken on May 6 in Chennai and Vellore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act . The investigation pertains to an FIR registered by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance Anti-corruption against S Pandian, Superintendent of the Environment Department and some others for alleged possession of disproportionate assets. The ED searched a total of 16 premises that included those of the above named officer and various "prominent" consultants for departments of Tamil Nadu government, it said. "The searches unearthed a deep-rooted and systemic corruption network involving several prominent consultants across key government departments. "Evidences reveal that consultants/brokers acted as middlemen, floated shell companies and consultancy firms through which kickbacks were routed under the guise of service fees and consultancy payments," the ED alleged. This "web of corruption", as per the agency, operated through "fixed commissions" paid to officials for obtaining "illegal" and expedited clearances. It said investigation has "confirmed" the role of key consultants named Prabhakar Sigamony, A K Nathan, Naveen Kumar, Santhosh Kumar and Vinoth Kumar in facilitating "illegal" approvals. The agency said, during the searches, an "important" employee of a consultant "severely" damaged her phone in order to hide "evidences". Action will be taken as per law against this person for destruction of evidence and non-cooperation, it said. The ED said it has also recovered "incriminating" documents, digital records, and property documents during the raids that indicate a large-scale layering and siphoning of illicit funds.
