Following the disclosures emerging in the public domain regarding the alleged hawala links in the MAWS corruption scandal involving DMK minister KN Nehru, AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday, 21 February 2026, launched a sharp attack on the ruling DMK, accusing the Municipal Administration Minister of corruption and hawala-linked irregularities and asserting that the AIADMK would return to power in the upcoming elections.
Addressing an election campaign meeting in Ambattur as part of his ‘Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom’ yatra, Palaniswami alleged that the DMK regime had engaged in “five years of loot” and claimed that the public had not received any tangible benefits during its tenure.
He said that once the AIADMK returned to power, the party would recover funds allegedly sent abroad through hawala channels and use the reclaimed money to implement welfare schemes.
Referring to Chief Minister MK Stalin’s recent remarks that he was not afraid of raids, Palaniswami alleged that the chief minister’s comments reflected nervousness following a court direction to register an FIR in connection with the issue.
The AIADMK leader further alleged that Minister Senthil Balaji had previously spent 453 days in jail in connection with alleged corruption in TASMAC and claimed that Minister K.N. Nehru was now facing allegations related to hawala transactions. He stated that the Enforcement Directorate had written to the Director General of Police seeking registration of a case based on evidence gathered during raids, but no action was taken until the court intervened following a petition by the AIADMK.
Palaniswami also alleged that Nehru collected bribes ranging from ₹30 lakh to ₹35 lakh for postings in the water supply department and took commissions on public works. He further claimed that Senthil Balaji had siphoned off more than ₹24,000 crore through TASMAC operations.
Continuing his attack, Palaniswami accused the chief minister of avoiding direct responses in the Assembly despite speaking for over two-and-a-half hours and questioned the government’s handling of law and order.
He also alleged the existence of a kidney trafficking racket linked to a hospital run by a DMK MLA and warned the public to exercise caution while seeking treatment at hospitals owned by ruling party functionaries. In addition, he criticised the state government’s claims on poverty reduction, alleging that economic distress was forcing people into extreme measures.
Source: The New Indian Express
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