Is There a Rs 800 Crore Recruitment 'Scam'? EPS Criticizes Stalin Government for 'Selling' Jobs and Demands FIR
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Allegations of a large-scale recruitment scam in Tamil Nadu.
- Bribes reportedly range from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 35 lakh.
- The investigation is linked to recent ED raids.
- Palaniswami calls for a fair investigation to ensure accountability.
- The scandal highlights the need for transparency in government processes.
Chennai, Oct 30 (NationPress) The AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, has called on the police to promptly file a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the purported Rs 800-crore recruitment scam involving the state government's Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department.
In a forceful statement, Palaniswami emphasized that the extensive irregularities in the recruitment procedure have shattered the aspirations of countless honest and diligent youth striving for government jobs based on merit.
He accused intermediaries, acting on behalf of senior politicians and officials, of collecting bribes ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 35 lakh per candidate.
“This job racket, masterminded by Minister K.N. Nehru, his relatives, and certain department officials, has tainted the once-sacred process of public recruitment, turning it into a profit-driven scheme,” he asserted.
Palaniswami indicated that the scandal surfaced following a series of Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids conducted across Tamil Nadu earlier this year.
He mentioned that the ED has already provided a comprehensive dossier, backed by documents and witness testimonies, to the Director General of Police (DGP) to advocate for a case to be registered under applicable legal provisions, allowing for an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Palaniswami remarked, “The ED's investigations revealed a vast cash-for-jobs operation embedded within the MAWS Department, involving the manipulation of examination outcomes and interview lists to favor those who paid bribes.”
“The DMK government's lust for commissions has jeopardized the future of Tamil Nadu's youth,” he added.
He urged the DGP to initiate a fair investigation via the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to ensure that no individual, irrespective of their position or political ties, is protected.
“The Stalin administration has transformed recruitment into a commercial enterprise. The citizens of Tamil Nadu will not forgive those who commodified government jobs,” Palaniswami cautioned, calling for the Governor and central agencies to oversee the investigation to ensure transparency and accountability.