Chennai, May 9 (UNI) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Chennai Zonal Office,

has unearthed a deep-rooted and systemic corruption network across key Tamil Nadu

Government departments during recent raids and seized unaccounted cash to the tune

of Rs 4.73 crores.

In a statement on Friday, the ED said it had conducted search operations across Chennai

and Vellore on May six under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act

(PMLA), 2002 at 16 premises associated with certain officer and various prominent

consultants for Government departments of Tamil Nadu.

The ED initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Directorate of Vigilance

and Anti-corruption (DVAC) against S Pandian, Superintendent of Environment Department,

Tamil Nadu and others for alleged disproportionate case.

The searches unearthed a deep-rooted and systemic corruption network involving several

prominent consultants across key Government departments, it said.

Evidences revealed 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.

This web of corruption was found to operate through fixed commissions paid to officials

for obtaining illegal and expedited clearances.

The investigation has confirmed the role of key consultants--Prabhakar Sigamony, A.K. Nathan,

Naveen Kumar, Santhosh Kumar, and Vinoth Kumar in facilitating illegal approvals.

It said unaccounted cash of Rs. 4.73 crore, intended for bribe payments, was seized during the

searches.

During the course of the searches, incriminating documents, digital records, and property

documents were recovered, indicating large-scale layering and siphoning of illicit funds.

The ED has also identified assets and properties acquired using the Proceeds of Crime

(POC) and is in the process of quantifying and attaching them under the PMLA.

In a premise, an important employee of consultant has severely damaged her phone for

hiding the evidences from agency.

Action will be taken as per law against this person for destruction of evidences and

non-cooperation with agency.

Further investigation is under progress.

UNI GV 1840