A large-scale library procurement scam involving thousands of books suspected to have been generated using artificial intelligence (AI), attributed to fictitious authors and sold at inflated prices has come under the scanner of Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). The controversy, which has been dubbed ‘India’s first AI scam’, centres on books supplied by Agal Vilakku Publications to public libraries across the State during the previous DMK regime.
Tamil Nadu School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity Minister A Rajmohan has confirmed that the DVAC began an inquiry after receiving a complaint from his department. The investigation is examining how the publishing house secured procurement orders, how the books entered government libraries and whether multiple publishing identities were used to facilitate the alleged operation.
The scale of the suspected irregularities has emerged across several districts. In Coimbatore, approximately 3,000 books suspected to be part of the alleged scam have been boxed and sealed. At Chennai’s Connemara Library, 523 books supplied under the Agal Vilakku name have been identified. Meanwhile, around 2,200 books have reportedly been removed from the Tenkasi District Central Library and shifted to a separate storeroom, as reported in Indian Express.
According to library staff in Tenkasi, the books, most priced above Rs 1,000, began arriving in mid-December 2025. All the consignments were reportedly received before the Assembly election, under the previous DMK government. Staff were shifting the books to a separate storeroom when the development was observed.
Several books carried names of unfamiliar or apparently fictitious authors, including Nivetha Anbalagan, Nivetha Subbaiah, Manisha Saravanan, Manisha Akash, Manisha Subramanian, Mohana Ravi, Kala Murugan and Thamarai Panneer, among others.
Removed books carried names of several unfamiliar/fake authors, including Nivetha Anbalagan, Nivetha Subbaiah, Manisha Saravanan, Manisha Akash, Manisha Subramanian, Mohana Ravi, Kala Murugan and Thamarai Panneer…among others. https://t.co/gbnhudGwdb
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) November 10, 2026
A library official, speaking on condition of anonymity to The New Indian Express, alleged that payments to Agal Vilakku Publications were released considerably faster than payments to other publishers. Books supplied by the same publisher are now reportedly being removed from other libraries across Tenkasi district.
Some librarians had allegedly become suspicious after noticing unfamiliar author names but hesitated to raise the issue with senior officials, citing the keen interest shown by certain officials in procuring books from the publisher and ensuring speedy payments.
Some librarians reportedly became suspicious after noticing unfamiliar author names but hesitated to raise the issue with higher officials, citing the keen interest shown by same officials in procuring books from the publisher and ensuring speedy payments. https://t.co/9jctCK9q9B
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) November 10, 2026
Perumal Murugan’s Allegations Trigger Investigation
The controversy first gained significant attention following an account by Tamil writer Perumal Murugan about allegedly expensive and error-ridden books purchased for Coimbatore’s Periyar Arivulagam library, inaugurated by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on 16 October 2026.
Murugan, who was part of a committee constituted to recommend books on modern literature and literary criticism for the new libraries, highlighted serious irregularities in the procurement process in an essay.
Following the allegations, Rajmohan announced an investigation and alleged that a network had been operating for years, using AI-generated content, shifting author identities and multiple publishing-house names to get books into public library collections across Tamil Nadu.
The minister said investigators had begun inquiries at Anna Centenary Library and that steps were being taken to question the owner of Agalvilakku Publishing House. He also said the government had received information indicating that around 20 publishing-house names had allegedly been used as proxies.
As an example, Rajmohan displayed a book whose production and distribution credits listed different entities. While the front carried the name ‘Agalvilakku’, the cover design was credited to ‘Sigma’ and distribution to ‘Phoenix’. The minister cited this as evidence of the alleged use of multiple identities in the publishing and distribution chain.
Jean Dreze Denies Authorship of Book
One of the most striking allegations concerns renowned economist Jean Dreze, who reportedly denied authoring a book titled Democracy and People’s Right in the Contemporary World.
According to Rajmohan, the book had entered Madurai’s Kalaignar Centenary Library in 2023. He cited a reference dated June 25, 2023, in connection with the disputed volume.
The minister also displayed several books carrying names that appeared to follow recurring patterns. These included Nivedha Paulraj, whose credited subjects ranged from law, economics, gender equality and technology to elderly welfare, women’s safety, agriculture and space research.
Other names included Nivedha Anbazhagan, associated with books on scientific development and struggles against caste, and Nivedha Mohan.
Rajmohan also cited books attributed to authors named Sachin, Pavithra Karunanidhi, Pounambal Karunanidhi and Kamalambal Karunanidhi. A book titled The Bitter Truth of Caste, credited to Kamalambal Karunanidhi, reportedly carried a 3 January 2025, stamp.
Further names identified by the minister included Surya Balu, Vijay Balu, Vijay Pal and Vijay Adithan. A book attributed to Vijay Adithan was dated 3 January 2025, while another credited to Sreelekha Vijay carried a January 29 date.
He also pointed to a research book on Naladiyar attributed to an author named Surya Pal.
“Even the Scottish police couldn’t track down these authors!” Rajmohan remarked, referring to the authors he alleged were fictitious.
Other names cited included Kokila Varadhan, Diyashini Varadhan, Harini and Trisha Vijay. Responding to questions about some of these names, the minister maintained that the books had entered library collections before the TVK government assumed office. However, the presence of unfamiliar author names by itself does not establish that the authors are fictitious or that a crime has occurred.
Procurement Orders and Payments Under Scrutiny
Responding to questions about why the alleged irregularities surfaced only after the TVK assumed office, Rajmohan claimed that the procurement process had begun under the previous government.
He alleged that certain purchase orders had been issued in February and that the books were delivered within seven days.
The minister also provided details of the 523 books received from Agalvilakku at Chennai’s Connemara Library during 2025. These included 40 books received on January 3, 54 on January 29, two batches of 90 and 85 books in April, and another 254 books in November. He displayed an April 2 stamp and also referred to a January 26 date during his presentation.
However, Rajmohan clarified that the presence of books at Connemara Library does not necessarily establish that they were purchased by the government. The library also receives books through the mandatory deposit system, under which publishers submit copies of their publications. He said the distinction between deposited books and government purchases would be considered during the inquiry.
The minister said the investigation would establish how procurement orders were obtained and whether the supplier had used them to justify questionable transactions.
He also announced that orders relating to books procured for Tiruchirappalli’s Kamarajar Library had been cancelled, while another statement indicated that the cancellation was being processed. Books suspected to be part of the alleged scam in other libraries would be boxed, sealed and preserved for investigation.
New Committee Proposed for Transparent Procurement
Rajmohan said the government was planning to constitute a committee comprising writers, publishers, educationists and retired officials to oversee book procurement and ensure transparency. The proposed mechanism is expected to be put in place by December.
He maintained that the TVK government had not purchased any books and rejected allegations that the investigation was being used to target the previous DMK regime. He said the government was identifying when and where the transactions originated rather than merely attributing responsibility based on political considerations.
The DMK, meanwhile, has demanded an independent investigation and legal action, while accusing the TVK government of exploiting the controversy for political purposes.
Rajmohan described the alleged episode as both an administrative and ideological failure, pointing to the irony of suspected irregularities involving libraries named after Periyar and Anna, figures whose political legacy was closely associated with literature, education and the written word.
With thousands of disputed books now being identified and removed from public libraries, the DVAC investigation is expected to establish the extent of the alleged procurement irregularities, the role of publishing intermediaries and the officials responsible for approving the purchases and releasing payments.
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