Tamil Nadu Public Works and Sports Development Minister Adhav Arjuna on Wednesday, 1 July invited contractors and individuals who allege they were cheated or forced to pay bribes under the previous government in the Public Works Department (PWD) and Highways Department to file formal complaints, promising strict confidentiality, legal protection, and efforts to recover lost money.

What the Minister Alleged

Adhav Arjuna alleged that the previous administration oversaw widespread corruption, systematic rule violations, and an entrenched bribery network across the PWD and Highways departments. According to the minister, influential individuals — including those who held power at the time, their relatives, and persons with close political ties — allegedly promised government contracts to contractors in exchange for illegal payments, only to defraud them after the money was paid.

He claimed the present Tamil Nadu government had already begun receiving several complaints from contractors who say they were defrauded through such practices.

How to File a Complaint

The minister urged all those who suffered financial losses or were victims of alleged corruption to approach either his office or the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) with detailed representations. Complainants can also write directly to the minister at the official email address minister.pwd.hd.tn@gmail.com. He assured that every complaint would be examined carefully and that the identities of complainants would be kept strictly confidential.

Government's Assurance on Legal Action

Adhav Arjuna said the government would initiate appropriate legal proceedings to recover money allegedly lost by victims at the earliest and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice. He declared that the PWD and Highways departments would henceforth operate with complete transparency and accountability, and that all contracts would be awarded strictly in accordance with the law and established procedures.

Broader Context

The move is part of the ruling government's stated push for clean administration in Tamil Nadu. This comes amid a broader national pattern of incoming state governments launching anti-corruption drives targeting predecessor administrations — a practice that carries both genuine accountability value and political optics. The DVAC, the nodal agency for receiving these complaints, has statutory powers to investigate public servants and recover proceeds of corruption. Whether the complaints already received will lead to prosecutions remains to be seen.