The Dravidian model government in Tamil Nadu has arrested Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of the anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam, along with several members of the organization, following their protest against alleged corruption involving the Tamilnadu Civil Supplies Corporation. The protest was symbolic, with activists demanding the body be renamed “Tamil Nadu Christy Supplies Corporation,” pointing to alleged favoritism and irregularities tied to the Christy Friedgram Group.
The protest took place outside the Koyambedu Metro Administrative Complex in Chennai, where the activists raised slogans highlighting corruption in government contracts. They accused the association of operating with political and corporate collusion. However, the peaceful demonstrators were detained reportedly 12 of them and confined in a private wedding hall in Nerkundram, raising further concerns over suppression of dissent.
தமிழ்நாடு அரசுக்கு ரூ.992 கோடி சேமிக்க சென்ற அறப்போர் இயக்கதினரை தமிழ் நாடு அரசு கைது செய்துள்ளது. ஊழலை இரும்புக்கரம் கொண்டு ஒழிப்பேன் என்று சொன்ன முதல்வர் @mkstalin ஊழல் செய்த கிறிஸ்டி குமரசாமியை கைது செய்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்காமல், அதை கேள்வி கேட்க சென்ற அறப்போர் இயக்க… pic.twitter.com/XrAyWp8PK2
— Arappor Iyakkam (@Arappor) July 10, 2025
The protest was sparked by the inaction of the DMK government and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) over a major scandal first reported in March 2025. Arappor Iyakkam accused a ₹992 crore scam in Tamil Nadu’s food supply and transport sector.
In a 40-page complaint accompanied by 565 pages of documentation the NGO outlined how inflated transportation tenders awarded to firms allegedly linked to the Christy Friedgram Group led to massive losses for the public exchequer. The complaint was submitted to agencies including the CBI, ED, DVAC, and Income Tax Investigation Wing, as well as to top state and central officials including Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Jayaram Venkatesan alleged that three companies Muruga Enterprises, Kandasamy & Co., and Karthikeya Enterprises bagged tenders at rates over 107% higher than market prices, with direct ties to Christy Friedgram Group’s T.S. Kumarasamy. These tenders were cleared shortly after the BJP returned to power in 2024, raising suspicions of bipartisan collusion.
The contracts, intended for transporting paddy across 38 districts, were priced at ₹598 per metric ton, up from previous rates of ₹200–250 for short-distance hauling. In 2020, the Zinc Foods group allegedly another Christy Friedgram subsidiary had already been awarded a tender at ₹640 per ton, leading to a profit margin of ₹350–400 per ton at the cost of taxpayers. That contract was scrapped in three years, but the group’s reappearance in 2023 sparked further backlash.
The NGO argues that these inflated contracts have real-world consequences: ration shortages, public hardship, and budgetary strain. Many citizens, particularly ration card holders, face frequent stockouts of essential goods, often within the first week of the month. The NGO contends that this corruption directly siphons funds away from vital services like education and food security.
Notably, this isn’t Arappor Iyakkam’s first exposé on the Christy Friedgram Group. In 2021, they revealed another massive scam worth ₹2,028 crore involving procurement irregularities, which is still under investigation.
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