The Madras High Court, while hearing a batch of writ petitions concerning alleged irregularities in the procurement of distribution transformers by TANGEDCO, recorded submissions relating to delay in action on complaints, alongside the response of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), which has since closed its preliminary enquiry.
Petitioners Allege Delay In Action
The petitioners, including Arappor Iyakkam, submitted that a complaint dated 6 July 2023 alleging large-scale irregularities and loss to the public exchequer had not been acted upon within the statutory timeline.
They stated that prior approval for enquiry was granted only on September 26, 2025. According to the petitioners, the timeline prescribed under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act is three months, extendable by one additional month, and the delay in the present case was unexplained.
They further submitted that, instead of registering an FIR, the authorities conducted a preliminary enquiry and continued it beyond the prescribed scope and duration. The petitioners stated that the vigilance manual contemplates completion of such enquiry within a limited period, but in this case, more than five months had elapsed.
It was also submitted that the delay in registering an FIR could result in loss of key evidence such as call records.
The petitioners further contended that although the complaint named several public servants, prior approval was granted only against one official and only for a preliminary enquiry.
DVAC Outlines Sequence, Says No Prima Facie Case
In its status report, the DVAC stated that the complaint dated 6 July 2023 was received on 10 July 2023 and subjected to factual verification. The report was forwarded to the Vigilance Commissioner on 22 August 2023.
The DVAC stated that, on directions, it sought prior approval from the government on 22 January 2024 and that approval was granted on 26 September 2025. A preliminary enquiry was thereafter registered on 13 October 2025.
The agency submitted that during the enquiry, relevant documents were collected and witnesses were examined. It stated that the preliminary enquiry revealed that there was no prima facie evidence to establish that tenders for procurement of distribution transformers between 2021 and 2023 were awarded at higher values causing loss to the exchequer.
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