The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in Chennai has initiated legal action against three builders accused of bribing government officials and representatives between 2015 and 2017. The individuals implicated in the case are T Udhayakumar, Sunil Khetpalia, and Maneesh Parmar. The allegations involve payments exceeding ₹50 crore.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the DVAC filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the builders, alleging that they bribed various officials across departments to obtain clearances for constructing a multi-storey apartment complex in Chennai. The accused are associated with Landmark Housing Projects and KLP Projects Private Limited.
The case first came to light in 2017 when legal proceedings were initiated against Landmark Housing Projects. Udhayakumar, the managing director, submitted documents to the Madras High Court and the Income Tax department, disclosing cash payments totaling over ₹50 crore to public servants. The court subsequently directed the DVAC to conduct a preliminary inquiry.
DVAC officials received Udhayakumar’s documents in March 2020, just before the national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The documents revealed a list of names and amounts paid to various individuals, including political figures. However, full names and designations were not disclosed in the list.
The accused allegedly paid bribes to officials in departments such as Metro Water and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). The DVAC FIR alleges that Udhayakumar paid a total of ₹50,00,86,125 in bribes to various officials and public servants.
The bribery scandal also extends to the purchase of land from Binny Limited in Perambur, Chennai, for ₹370 crore. “This clearly shows how widespread the problem of bribery is,” commented anti-corruption activist Jayaram Venkatesan.
Former AIADMK MP Balaganga, whose name appeared on the list, denied any involvement in the case. “I have not received any bribe. I’ve no connection to this case,” he stated.
The DVAC’s FIR underscores the gravity of corruption allegations within the construction industry in Tamil Nadu and the need for rigorous enforcement of anti-corruption measures to uphold transparency and accountability in governance.
Sources By Agencies
