VILLUPURAM: Tamil Nadu Rural development department has initiated an inquiry against an executive engineer after allegations of corruption surfaced against him.
The executive engineer at the district rural development centre, Varadarajan Perumal, who was relieved of his duty two months ago had allegedly taken ‘commissions’ to the tune of a whopping `500 crore.
He was relieved of his duty and was transferred to Kallakuruchi division when the centre was bifurcated.
Some contractors complained to the collector, director of the rural development department and Chief Minister’s special cell, alleging Varadarajan had taken nearly `500 crore during his tenure as the executive engineer in the Villupuram and Kallakuruchi divisions.
In the complaint, the contractors said, the engineer used to demand ‘commission’, apparently 16 per cent of the tender amount, to approve the bills. Giving an example, the sources pointed to some documents submitted in 2014 pertaining to a well constructed in Moongilthuraipattu village.
While the document reportedly stated the cost of the work as `7.5 lakh, sources alleged that no such well existed. Sources further said, there were many documents sanctioning bills for constructions – like new roads – that existed only on papers.
Based on the complaints, a team, led by rural development department additional director Rajam, initiated an inquiry into the alleged misappropriation.
They are expected to submit a report to the director of the department in Chennai. But when contacted, the team under Rajam, refuted to divulge any details regarding their findings. They simply said, action would be initiated after the director gets the report.
Meanwhile, sources alleged that the official had the support of a top politician, who was then an elected representative.
While Varadarajan regularly shared the bribe with his peers and officials under him, the top politician failed to do so, attracting the ire of his peers, said the sources.
Sources also added that some officials, who had been receiving money from Varadarajan, had met in a hotel on Wednesday night, to discuss what they could do in favour of the executive engineer during the investigation.