DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi contended that the CM, who also holds the portfolio of Highways and Minor Ports had abused his power by granting the project at highly inflated rates.

He said Palaniswami being a Government servant, entered into a criminal conspiracy with his relatives and benamis and thereby committed criminal misconduct and obtained undue pecuniary advantage from himself and thus committed offences punishable under Section 120-B of IPC and 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. Bharathi is his 14-page affidavit also submitted that the modus in awarding the contracts, appears to eliminate and dissuade all eligible contractors from participating in the bid by adopting intimidating tactics.

Noting that although a complaint was lodged on June 13, 2018, so far the DVAC has neither registered a case nor started inquiring into the allegations in the complaint, Bharathi said based on HC’s observations it is clear that when a complaint is made against a public servant, the DVAC has to inquire into the complaint directly with no prior sanction.

The five projects are SH-37 stretch of highway from Oddanchatram-Dharamapuram-Avinashipalayam, SH-39 Stretch of highway from Thiruneveli-Sengottai-Kollam, Four laning of Madurai Ring Road, Six laning of Vandalur-Walajabad and maintenance of all State Highway roads in Ramanathapuram, Thiruvallur, Krishnagiri and Virudhunagar districts. The case is set to be heard on August 24.