A special court in Chennai has permitted the Tamil Nadu government to reopen a corruption case against former AIADMK minister and current DMK MLA M. Vaithilingam, nearly two months after the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had moved to close the case, as reported in the Free Press Journal.
The Principal Sessions Court accepted the state government’s petition seeking a reinvestigation and directed the DVAC to conduct the probe expeditiously and submit its report within three months.
Reversal Comes Weeks After Closure Move
The development comes around 45 days after a report by Free Press Journal alleged that the previous DMK government under then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had sought to close the corruption case against Vaitheilingam shortly after he defected from the AIADMK to the DMK.
The report stated that the newly formed TVK government subsequently reversed the earlier position and approached the Sessions Court seeking permission for a fresh investigation.
A senior government official reportedly confirmed that the media report had prompted the government’s change in stance.
Case Pertains To ₹2.79 Crore Bribery Allegation
The case relates to allegations dating back to 2016, when Vaitheilingam served as Housing Minister in the AIADMK government.
According to the allegations, he accepted a ₹2.79 crore bribe from real estate firm Shriram Properties and Infrastructure Ltd. in return for facilitating planning permission for one of its projects.
DVAC Had Earlier Sought To Close Case
In its closure report, the DVAC stated that it had been unable to establish conclusive or corroborative evidence to substantiate allegations that Vaithilingam or any other public servant had received illegal gratification while granting planning approval.
Even after the TVK government assumed office under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on May 10, the DVAC reportedly maintained its stand before the court on June 4, seeking closure of the case despite the new government’s stated commitment to investigate alleged irregularities during the previous DMK administration.
The government later changed its position by filing a petition before the Sessions Court requesting a reinvestigation.
ED Opposed Closure
It is noteworthy that the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had independently completed its money laundering investigation and filed a chargesheet, opposed the closure of the DVAC case.
According to sources, the ED had sent multiple communications to the DVAC, sharing details gathered during its money laundering investigation, which the agency believed could strengthen the state’s corruption probe.
Closure of the DVAC case could have effectively weakened the ED’s money laundering prosecution because the alleged corruption offence forms the predicate offence required under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Complainant Also Challenged Closure
Chennai-based NGO Arappor Iyakkam, which was the original complainant in the case, also moved the court opposing the DVAC’s closure report.
Breaking on pg1 of @fpjindia: Chennai sessions court accepts DVAC request to reinvestigate Rs 27.9 crore corruption case of former AIADMK minister and current DMK MLA Vaithilingam.
Stalin-led DMK govt had decided to close the case after Vaithilingam switched.
After my expose, TN… pic.twitter.com/N7MmQfHFWX— Siddharth Prabhakar (@Sidprabhakar7) July 27, 2026
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