New Delhi, November 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by former Tamil Nadu Minister and senior DMK leader K.N. Nehru challenging a Madras High Court order directing registration of an FIR in an alleged corruption case involving appointments in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department.
A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu declined to interfere with the High Court’s February 20 direction to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a case based on material shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Bench also upheld the High Court’s October 26 dismissal of Nehru’s review petition.
The Supreme Court clarified that the High Court’s observations would not prevent Nehru from raising his defence at the appropriate stage. Nehru had argued that the original order was passed without giving him an effective opportunity of hearing.
The allegations concern a suspected cash-for-jobs racket involving recruitment to 2,538 posts in the MAWS Department during Nehru’s tenure as minister. The ED estimated the alleged illegal gratification at between Rs 630 crore and Rs 1,020 crore and forwarded material to the Tamil Nadu DGP in October 2025.
The agency alleged that bribes were collected in exchange for government appointments and that tender processes were manipulated. It also referred to digital and financial evidence, including WhatsApp conversations, screenshots, transfer orders and financial records recovered during searches at premises linked to individuals associated with Nehru.
After the High Court ordered an FIR and investigation, Nehru and the then DMK-led state government filed review petitions. Following a change of government after the 2026 Assembly elections, the state informed the High Court that the DVAC had registered an FIR and that the new administration intended to withdraw the review petition filed by its predecessor.
The High Court subsequently dismissed Nehru’s independent review plea, observing that its earlier order required only registration of a case and investigation and did not determine anyone’s guilt.
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