It is a setback for former DMK minister and senior leader K N Nehru after former ministers EV Velu and Senthil Balaji faced action over alleged corrupt deeds. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has named K N Nehru and his two brothers among 13 persons as accused in a case concerning alleged manipulation of government tenders under the Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply (MAWS) department and the collection of illegal gratification disguised as “party fund”.
The FIR alleges a wrongful gain of Rs 1,020 crore and states that illegal gratification was collected at 7.5%-10% of the contract value.
🚨 ED Document Proof- MAWS Dept scam 🚨
7.5 to 10 % – Party Fund
Beneficiary – Stalin & Udhayanidhi…. 👀‼️ pic.twitter.com/ro8i41ajZo
— Hari (@hari_noty) September 7, 2026
The others named in the FIR include Nehru’s brothers K N Manivannan and N Ravichandran, former Madhavaram DMK MLA S Sudarshanam, R K Nagar DMK MLA J J Ebenezer, TVH Group director Kavi Prasad, TVH managers D Ramesh and D Prabhu, besides other associates, contractors and government officials. The case relates to alleged manipulation of government tenders and collection of illegal gratification in contracts awarded between 2021 and 2025.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered an FIR against former Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru, his brothers, two sitting MLAs and senior municipal officials over an alleged Rs 1,020-crore tender manipulation and bribery scam.
The FIR… pic.twitter.com/fLjqdn1DIJ
— Rajalakshmi sampath (@Rajalakshmi2398) September 7, 2026
Acting on a complaint by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Additional Director, DVAC registered an FIR against K N Nehru, his brothers K N Manivannan and N Ravichandran and others over alleged manipulation and corruption in MAWS contracts.
Acting on a complaint by #ED Additional Director, #DVAC FIR against KN Nehru, his brothers KN Manivannan, N Ravichandran & others over alleged manipulation & corruption in Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply (MAWS) contracts.@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress @KN_NEHRU 1/7 pic.twitter.com/jkuTH8jP0o
— S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) September 7, 2026
DVAC registered the case on September 4 following an inquiry based on the ED’s 258-page report on alleged irregularities in government contracts between 2021 and 2025.
The FIR alleges that K N Nehru, named as the prime accused, facilitated access to senior IAS officers and influenced tender-awarding procedures.
According to the FIR, Nehru’s brothers, K N Manivannan (A2) and N Ravichandran (A3), were accused of coordinating the collection and routing of illegal gratification. A calculation sheet recovered from Manivannan’s phone allegedly recorded receipts of Rs 11.982 crore and disbursements of Rs 11.669 crore, with a substantial portion allegedly passed on to him.
The FIR further alleges that Nehru allowed his brothers to coordinate with his close associate Kavi Prasad to collect illegal gratification from contractors and public servants.
The document states that Rs 1 crore was collected from V R Water Infra at Avinashi on Ravichandran’s directions. The FIR also cites other alleged V R Water Infra collections of Rs 2.77 crore, Rs 5 crore, Rs 2 crore and Rs 4 crore.
One netizen claimed that the FIR against K N Nehru had already been decided in connection with the Madhavaram Booster tender for Rs 5.25 crore for a rainwater channel. The tender was opened on August 9, 2024, but was allegedly allotted or prefixed to a pre-decided bidder, with “party fund” or bribe allegedly collected.
#DVAC #FIR
முன்னாள் அமைச்சர் நேரு அவர்கள் மீதான FIR,
– முன்பே முடிவு செய்யப்பட்ட Madhavaram Booster ஒப்பந்தம்
– 5.25கோடி மழைநீர் வாய்க்கால் ஒப்பந்தத்தில் – இலஞ்சம் (Party Fund)
– ஒப்பந்தம் திறப்பு : 09.08.2024 ஆனால் யாருக்கு கொடுக்கவேண்டும் என 30.07.2024 இல் முடிவு(Pre Fixing) pic.twitter.com/kmpWvP3Ki2— Rk (@comrade_rk) September 7, 2026
Kavi Prasad (A4), then director of True Value Homes (TVH) Group of Companies, allegedly acted as an intermediary by fixing meetings with officials, sharing tender information and helping “prefix” preferred bidders before tenders were opened.
D Ramesh (A5) and D Prabhu (A6), also associated with the TVH Group, have been accused of handling collections in the Tiruppur and Coimbatore regions.
R Sasipriya (A7), then Coimbatore town planning officer, is accused of collecting money from contractors and routing it to Manivannan through Ramesh and Prabhu.
G Balachandran (A8) and G Murugesan (A9), then regional engineers in Tiruppur, are accused of facilitating municipal works and kickbacks.
Former DMK MLAs Sudarshanam (A10) and Ebenezer (A11) are also accused of recommending contractors and sharing tender details and alleged bribe calculations with Prasad.
The proprietor and office-bearers of C T Constructions in Chennai are named as A12, while contractor K Sathish Kumar is A13. The FIR also names unknown officials, contractors and firms.
According to the FIR, the DVAC inquiry prima facie found a nexus between public servants, private individuals and contractors in the award of contracts. It alleged that contractors were identified even before tenders were opened and that illegal gratification was collected on the pretext of “party fund” at 7.5% to 10% of the contract value.
The FIR cites a WhatsApp exchange dated September 6, 2021, in which Sudarshanam allegedly sent Prasad details of a Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) tender. Against one item, “C&T 75 lakh” was written in blue ink, along with the contract value in pencil, which was sent 22 days before the tender was opened.
One netizen said the ED document was reportedly leaked during the DMK government’s tenure itself and questioned why no arrests had been made in connection with the alleged scam.
🚨 CM Vijay – ED Document on MAWS Scam 🚨
The ED document as reportedly leaked during the DMK government’s tenure itself. ‼️
258-page ED document — TVK Govt completed 4 Months
Not even a single person has been arrested in connection in this scam… 👀 https://t.co/Sl56aYi9J2 pic.twitter.com/5kazoP8HSI
— Hari (@hari_noty) September 7, 2026
The issue stems from a report submitted by the ED on December 3, 2025. With the state government’s permission, the DVAC registered an inquiry on December 12.
The FIR was filed under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and submitted to the City Civil and Sessions Court, Chennai.
On September 5, 2026, DVAC conducted simultaneous searches at 30 locations linked to former Tamil Nadu minister and senior DMK leader K N Nehru, his brothers Ravichandran and Manivannan, and their associates.
