Bribes to MK Stalin: ED declares ‘cash for jobs’ scam in Tamil Nadu’s Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department in relation to 2,538 government posts. The orders for these posts were handed over to the officers by Chief Minister MK Stalin on August 6. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that bribes ranging from Rs 25 to 35 lakh per post were collected in this fraudulent process, totaling a fraud of Rs 888 crore. These things came to light during the raids in the bank fraud case. The ED sent a 232-page report to the Tamil Nadu police chief and asked him to conduct an investigation. While the opposition is demanding a CBI probe, the government is denying the allegations.
1.12 lakh candidates have applied for 2,538 posts like Assistant Engineers, Town Planning Officers, Junior Engineers, Sanitary Inspectors in Tamil Nadu MAWS Department in early 2024. Anna University conducted these exams in 2024. According to ED, the process was rigged and at least 150 candidates were allotted jobs. Bribes ranging from Rs.25 to 35 lakhs were collected for each position and distributed to powerful politicians and their close associates through middlemen. ED estimates that Rs 888 crore of fraud has been committed at the rate of Rs 35 lakh for all 2,538 posts. The ED report stated that due to this scam, the dreams of eligible candidates were ruined and those who could not pay the bribes lost their jobs.
The ED investigation first started with a bank fraud case involving MAWS minister KN Nehru’s brother N Ravichandran and his company True Value Homes (TVH) Group. Hawala transactions and a chain of bribes were also revealed in the investigation of Rs.30 crore loans in this case. The evidence was collected during raids a year ago. The ED alleges that despite sending an alert to the Tamil Nadu police in April, no action was taken. (On October 29, a 232-page report was written to the police chief under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Monetary Laundering Act (PMLA), seeking an investigation.
Minister Nehru’s brother as the main actors, secretaries who gave the post orders and CM Stalin’s name was also included in this fraud. The ED says the fraud was perpetrated by MAWS minister, brother Ravichandran. The opposition has criticized the fraud as ‘deep-rooted systematic corruption’. Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai demanded a CBI probe saying the scam was part of Stalin’s politics.
According to the ED letter, the Tamil Nadu police should immediately take up the investigation. The scam is becoming a hotly debated political topic, especially during the 2026 assembly elections. Opposition parties like BJP and AIADMK are promoting this issue in a big way.
Read more
