The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had previously accused the State Minister of Municipal Administration and Rural Development, SP Velumani for being involved in several corrupt acts along with people from his kith and kin. Recently, while countering these allegations and defending his position, the cabinet minister told that he would quit the cabinet if the charges against him are proved to be correct.
“I will resign my minister’s post. I will even quit politics, resigning from the post of district secretary given to me by ‘Amma’.” he said defending his position.
When pointed out that the DMK organizing secretary RS Bharati who has challenged him to a debate on this issue, the minister countered back by saying, “I do not have to reply to charges made by RS Bharati, who is nothing more than a peon for Stalin. There are many others in my party to answer Bharati”.
Bharati had given a petition to the state Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption detailing the acts of corruption by Velumani in the award of contracts to close kin and friends. Hence, while backing up his charge with what he claimed was ‘authentic information’ obtained through Right To Information.
“Is Mr. Velumani denying that he had not awarded contracts to those close to him as revealed by the media. He did give those contracts (to those close to him)” said MDMK leader Vaiko.
Rebutting those claims, Velumani spoke, “At the same time, will DMK president M K Stalin fails to prove the allegations against me, is he prepared to quit from the post of the opposition leader and party president and give those to Duraimurugan and Alagiri?”
According to the charges, when the tenders for the Smart City projects came, Mr. Velumani was exercising undue and illegal influence in order to award contracts to his benami consortium companies.