Chennai, July 12 (IANS) Former Tamil Nadu Minister E.V. Velu said on Sunday that he would appear before the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on July 15 for questioning in connection with the alleged Rs 3.23 crore Highways Department tender irregularities case, rejecting allegations that his recent visit to Singapore was an attempt to evade the investigation.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in Chennai from Singapore, Velu added that he had already informed the investigating agency that he was travelling abroad for scheduled medical treatment and had sought time to appear through his legal counsel after receiving the summons.
“I will definitely appear before the DVAC on July 15 and cooperate fully with the investigation. Since the matter is before the court, I do not wish to make further comments. I have complete faith in the judiciary. I have not committed any wrongdoing and I am confident that justice will prevail,” he said.
Rejecting claims that he had fled the country to avoid questioning, Velu added that his visit to Singapore had been planned well in advance as part of his regular medical check-ups at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
He said that he had been undergoing treatment at the hospital since 2016 and had also received medical care there in 2023.
According to Velu, he decided to undergo another round of health evaluation after the Assembly election.
He applied for a Singapore visa on June 15, obtained it on June 17 and booked his travel for June 25.
However, DVAC officials conducted searches at his residence on the morning of June 25, forcing him to postpone his departure by a day. He left for Singapore on June 26 and underwent a series of cardiac, neurological, gastrointestinal and allergy-related examinations, remaining under medical observation during his stay.
“I have all the medical records and doctors’ reports. I did not travel out of fear or to avoid the investigation. My visit was solely for medical treatment,” he said.
The DVAC registered the case against Velu, nine government officials and a private contractor based on a complaint filed by Arappor Iyakkam, alleging irregularities in the award of Highways Department contracts that caused a loss of Rs 3.23 crore to the state exchequer.
On June 25, the agency carried out searches at 20 locations across Chennai, Tiruvannamalai, Karur, Dindigul, Coimbatore and Tiruppur, seizing official records, digital evidence, documents related to the alleged irregularities and assets, besides Rs 40 lakh in cash.
Following the searches, the DVAC summoned Velu for questioning.
His lawyers subsequently sought 10 days’ time, citing his medical treatment abroad.
Reaffirming his stand on Sunday, the former Minister said he had consistently assured investigators of his cooperation and would appear before the agency as scheduled on July 15.
–IANS
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