Veeramani case under CM Vijay's direct watch, says TN minister
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan has put the Veeramani case centre-stage, declaring it is under CM C. Joseph Vijay's direct watch and promising no one will escape — while training fire on the previous DMK government for allegedly suppressing the probe for over a year. The statement signals an aggressive accountability push that could reshape Tamil Nadu's political landscape ahead of two critical by-elections.
Key Takeaways
School Education Minister Rajmohan stated on 23 September 2026 that the Veeramani case is under the direct supervision of Chief Minister C.
Rajmohan accused the previous DMK government of failing to act despite available evidence and questioned whether party functionaries shielded those involved.
The minister criticised former DMK minister S.
Regupathy by name over his remarks on the case.
The government said it plans to examine other cases it believes were suppressed and bring them to light.
On the proposed Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex , Rajmohan confirmed Pattinapakkam is not yet finalised; CM Vijay will make the final announcement.
Rajmohan urged the Union government to promptly release findings from the Keezhadi archaeological excavations.
Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, declared that the Veeramani case is under the direct supervision of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and that no one implicated in the matter would be spared. The minister's remarks sharpened the ongoing political confrontation between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over how the case was previously handled.
Minister's Key Charges Against Previous Government
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a renovated pond on the Government Museum campus in Egmore, Chennai, Rajmohan accused the preceding DMK administration of sitting on evidence and failing to act. He asked pointedly why the case had remained out of public view for a year and questioned whether DMK functionaries had shielded anyone connected to it. He also pressed for answers on who ordered the closure of the investigation.
Rajmohan directed several of his questions at former DMK minister S. Regupathy, whose recent remarks on the matter he criticised as inadequate. The minister contended that the TVK administration had taken up the case within months of assuming power — a contrast he framed as evidence of political will that the previous government lacked.
What the Chief Minister Has Said
'The Veeramani case is under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister. No one can escape,' Rajmohan said, quoting Chief Minister Vijay's position on the investigation. He added that the government intended to examine other cases it believed had been suppressed and bring their details into the public domain — signalling that the Veeramani matter may not be the last such reopening.
Secretariat Location and Keezhadi Findings
Rajmohan also addressed two other high-profile matters. On the proposed Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex, he clarified that Pattinapakkam had not been finalised as the site, and that Chief Minister Vijay would personally announce the location after making the final call. The project has triggered considerable public debate over the appropriate site for the state's new administrative headquarters.
Separately, Rajmohan called for the early release of research findings from excavations at Keezhadi, describing the archaeological site as an identity of civilisation at large — not merely of Tamil history. He urged the Union government to make the study results public without delay, adding pressure to a long-running demand from Tamil Nadu for greater transparency on the findings.
By-Elections in Dharapuram and Madurantakam
When asked about the upcoming Assembly by-elections in Dharapuram and Madurantakam, Rajmohan expressed confidence, saying conditions were favourable for a TVK victory in both constituencies. The two seats represent the ruling party's first electoral tests since coming to power, and the outcomes are expected to be read as an early referendum on the Vijay government's performance.
What Comes Next
The investigation into the Veeramani case — with the Chief Minister reportedly taking personal oversight — is expected to yield further disclosures in the weeks ahead. The government's stated intention to surface other allegedly suppressed cases suggests a broader accountability push that will likely intensify ahead of the by-elections.
Point of View
Raising the stakes considerably. The attack on the DMK over alleged suppression is a standard opposition-to-power playbook move, but its credibility will depend entirely on what the probe actually produces. More telling is the minister's hint at other suppressed cases: if the government follows through, Tamil Nadu could see a sustained accountability offensive that redraws political lines ahead of the 2026 by-elections. The Keezhadi demand, though seemingly unrelated, taps into a deep cultural nerve and could generate additional pressure on the Centre at a moment when the state government needs issues that cut across party lines.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Veeramani case in Tamil Nadu?
The Veeramani case is an ongoing investigation in Tamil Nadu that the ruling TVK government has placed under the direct supervision of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. School Education Minister Rajmohan stated on 23 September 2026 that the probe was taken up within months of TVK coming to power, accusing the previous DMK administration of sitting on evidence for over a year.
Why is the TVK government blaming the DMK over the Veeramani case?
Minister Rajmohan alleged that the previous DMK government failed to act despite available evidence and questioned whether DMK functionaries had protected individuals connected to the case. He also asked who ordered the case to be closed, directing pointed criticism at former DMK minister S. Regupathy.
Has a location been decided for Tamil Nadu's new Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex?
No final decision has been made. Minister Rajmohan clarified that Pattinapakkam has not been confirmed as the site, and that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will personally make the final call and announce the location soon.
What did the minister say about the Keezhadi archaeological findings?
Rajmohan urged the Union government to release the findings from Keezhadi excavations without delay. He described the site as representing the identity of civilisation as a whole, beyond its significance to Tamil history alone.
What are the Dharapuram and Madurantakam by-elections about?
These two Assembly constituencies are set to hold by-elections that will serve as TVK's first electoral contests since coming to power. Rajmohan expressed confidence in the party's prospects in both seats, saying conditions were favourable for a TVK victory.
