Recently, it was reported in Junior Vikatan (investigative journalism periodical) that their office received a phone call where an unknown caller lamented about the corruption of DMK MLAs in Tamil Nadu, and had asked them to investigate and write about the same. The caller reportedly told Junior Vikatan, “Go to various parts of this Capital city and inquire about the MLAs. Business and collection is hefty for them. From push-cart shops to TASMAC shops on the one hand, and from water to power connections on the other, the MLAs are making good collections. Even poor people are targeted, so much that they can’t even use the free toilets. They’re using the name of the local constituency’s MLA to collect money. This is happening in all areas including, Perumbur, Mylapore, Virugambakkam and Egmore,” he said and ended the call. 

Ju Vi (as Junior Vikatan is fondly called) investigated the matter to find out whether the information given by the caller was true. There were many complaints, big and small, in all the constituencies in Chennai. The investigation focused on 9 major constituencies, as majority of the complaints came from those areas. All nine of those MLAs have been accused of various offences. 

Before starting their investigation, a few sources had already revealed that the biggest source of revenue for the MLAs of Chennai is the public toilets. Although these come under the control of the corporation, the MLAs place their men in front of these toilets, and depending upon the area, these people collect ₹5 or ₹10 from the public who use the toilets. The instruction given to their men is that ₹1500 has to reach the MLA daily and the collectors can keep the remaining money that they receive. This seems to have become an unwritten rule in Chennai.

Here are the accusations made on some of the MLAs that has been reported in Ju Vi.

Virugambakkam MLA Prabhakar Raja:

Prabhakar Raja, the DMK MLA from Virugambakkam, is the youngest MLA in Tamil Nadu. The people of his constituency have accused him of many offences. One of the fruit vendors was quoted saying that the revenue these MLAs make from public toilets and public gatherings are way too much. They collect almost ₹1 lakh to just conduct a public meeting in Kamarajar Salai. One Vicky, who is a confidant of the MLA, collects upto ₹25,000 to allow illegal sale of alcohol. One Anandraj is in charge of the ‘Kanthuvatti’ (lend of usurious loans) business and collection of revenue from illegal construction, while Chicken Shop Meghanath and Sterling Suresh take care of issues rising from Casino clubs. In this manner, MLA Prabhakar Raja and his coterie are earning huge money.

Perambur MLA R D Sekhar:

Perambur MLA RD Sekhar is Joint Secretary of the party’s Youth Wing. Perambur is an area with a number of multi-story buildings. Sekhar’s men, who call every individual builder, asks for 15% commission from every project. Apart from these, collection is also made for Metro Water connection, sewerage connection, building plan approval, etc, in Sekhar’s name. In addition, the MLAs men have leased the toilets owned by the corporation for ₹1 lakh each. Those who have taken it for lease are charging ₹5 – ₹10 every time someone wants to use the toilet.

Egmore MLA Parandhaman:

A porter at the Egmore Railway Station was quoted saying that the public toilets surrounding the station and Children’s Hospital are all under the control of MLA Parandhaman and his men. In addition to this, the MLA’s men are also charging money to rent the Chetpet Social Welfare hall. As such complaints have been on the rise recently, MK Stalin removed regional secretary Vijayakumar who was close to Parandhaman, from his posting. The MLA’s men are also collecting revenue from road side shops, and not only public toilets. AIADMK MLA Sampath was quoted saying, “Parandhaman’s men don’t spare even one road side shop. Every shop is forced to pay ₹5000 every month. Even is a new building is built in the area, they try and seek revenue from it. In order to rent a Community hall, those who rent it have to pay ₹3,000 for the hall and ₹15,000 to them. Only then they allow the function to happen.”

Royapuram MLA Idream Murthy:

AIADMK District Representative Mohan was quoted saying, “Idream Murthy’s men ask for 10% commission from Stanley Hospital and RSRM Hospital for all the medicines that they buy and sell. They even transferred RSRM hospital’s superintendent to another hospital because he did not cooperate with them. In addition, the Neethaar Memorial in the area operated for free when the previous government was in power. As soon as DMK won the elections, they started collecting ₹3,000 for using the place, and later reduced it to ₹1,000 after opposition.”

Mylapore MLA Velu:

DMK MLA Velu won the elections in the Mylapore constituency after 20 years. The people of the constituency lamented that Velu’s affiliates did not even spare cemeteries. The MLA’s men are earning revenue on the basis of a ‘package’ for everything that is required to conduct a funeral, including, burning the body, finding a burial spot, tables and chairs, for the freezer box to preserve the body, etc. The Narayanasami Garden and the JJ Hall, and many other community halls in this constituency are under their control. Velu’s brother Bala and his business partner Murali are Velu’s right and left hands. Only if Murali is paid will the applications for water supply, electricity supplies or even ration card for that matter gets approved.

Thousand Lights MLA N Ezhilan:

The people of the Thousand Lights constituency are also stacking complaints against the newbie Ezhilan, who is the MLA of the constituency. Ezhilan is known for his rabidly anti-Hindu and provocative speeches. With him becoming MLA, a lot of problems are happening in the constituency’s police stations. Here too, collection from public toilets and community halls have peaked. The right hand man of Ezhilan is Shakthi, the party’s District Secretary. “We had submitted a petition to the MLA asking for electricity connection for 120 huts in Giriappa road. But he told us that we have to come back with Pattas for the lands and also an NOC from the Slum Clearance Board. However, in reality, 40 houses in the area are illegally given  power supply and the MLA collects ₹150 from them every month,” the locals said.

In addition, AIADMK functionary Murugesan also said, “Every month almost ₹500 is earned from road side shops. Even the roadside North Indian Mehendi artists are not spared. Not only that, the MLA’s men destroyed a shop in front of Hindi Prachar Sabha, because the owner refused to pay up and when asked why they said that the MLA asked them to close the shop.”

Sholinganallur MLA Aravind Ramesh:

The locals of the constituencies said that a lot of residential complexes are being built in Sholinganallur. The MLA’s party are gaining ₹40,000 for the construction of a community kitchen. Similarly, they earn ₹15,000 for water connection. Sholinganallur has the maximum number of IT and commercial offices in the region. Those firms might have done something illegal in either constructing the building or getting their plan approved. Ramesh’s men hold onto that and earn revenue in that manner. DMK’s Union Secretary Ravi takes care of all the collections. Only Ramesh’s lorries travel around all the building constructions in the area.

Tambaram MLA SR Raja: 

MLA S R Raja’s men decide rates for every single flower shop and tea shop in various and collect revenue accordingly. They ask for 20% commission for all the road construction work in Mudichur road and Gandhi road market area. S R Raja’s close relative Kamaraj takes care of revenue collection in the area. Market revenue collection is taken care by Nasoor Kani and ‘Market’ Babu. The locals also said that nobody questions Raja in the area and therefore assumes himself to be the ‘King’ of the constituency.

Pallavaram MLA E Karunanidhi:

It was reported that MLA E Karunanidhi earns a lot of revenue by collecting money from all those who construct new buildings. The MLA’s brother Joseph takes care of this revenue collection in the area.

It has been only 8 months since the DMK formed the government in Tamil Nadu and there are already so many accusations against the MLAs here. CM M K Stalin is trying to show himself as the best leader and a very ‘Transparent’ politician. The very first obstacle for this attempt has arisen from the capital itself.

The MLAs on the other hand have denied the allegations as expected. They shift the blame on either the opposition or brush it off saying that it as an attempt to malign their image. Here are some of the justifications provided by some fo the MLAs.

Explanations provided by the respective MLAs to defend their stance:

“Someone who is not liking my growth in the party lately is spreading such misinformation. I’m willing to take action if the affected public or businesses approach me directly. Otherwise all the accusations made against me are just baseless allegations,” said Parandhaman, MLA, Egmore.

“Can you provide evidence for the allegations placed on me? I am the son of the President of the Union of Commerce. Can I go and collect money from the market? People who are against me in the party are spreading such information about me. My annual income is ₹5 crores. I spend ₹3 crores every year. My father gives me ₹10 lakhs for my monthly expenses. So, I have no need to earn money in this manner,” said Prabhakar Raja, MLA, Virugambakkam.

“Collection of money from Public Toilet users may have happened during the AIADMK regime. After Gagandeep Singh Bedi became the Corporation Commissioner, he made Public toilets completely free of cost. I do not interfere in tender related matters. Only those who are not fond of my growth in the party are spreading such lies. Why would the leader give me the seat again if I was at fault? Or would I still be in charge of the Youth Wing?” said R D Sekhar, MLA, Perambur.

“Having won the elections after 20 years, I am only focusing on ensuring that my constituency is doing well. Otherwise, I never stoop so low to earn money from public toilets and community halls. I have never even turned towards the side of Plan Approvals. I have a lot of enemies inside the party. Allegations like these are placed to tarnish my reputation,” said T Velu, MLA, Mylapore.

“I neither went to any IT company or builder, nor did I collect any money. I work to ensure that no remarks are placed on me. However, in spite rumours about me keep spreading. I give you a challenge now. Try to prove that I take commissions with atleast one small evidence, let me see,” said Aravind Ramesh, MLA, Sholinganallur.

“I only had time to manage disasters like Corona and the flooding because of the rains. No contract has been signed in this constituency. All those allegations placed on me are contrary to the truth. I have been in the political field for 25 years now. Please inquire properly about me,” said S R Raja, MLA, Tambaram.

“If someone complaints against those who earn revenue using my name, immediate action would be taken against them. The Giriappa road issue was brought to our attention. The illegal power supply work is done by the AIADMK functionaries. We are taking steps to ensure that those who have submitted a petition have a legal indemnity bond and buy electricity properly,” said Dr. Ezhilan, MLA, Thousand Lights. 

“I do not interfere in anything as I am placed in the good books of the party and I would like to retain the same. If someone is asking money by using my name, come to me directly, I will take action,” said Karunanidhi, MLA, Pallavaram. 

“I do not interfere in the affairs of the hospital. I have to enquire the allegations placed on me with regard to the Neethar community hall. Otherwise, allegations about earning money from the constituency is not true,” said Idream Murthy, MLA, Royapuram. 

(With inputs from Junior Vikatan)

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