K N Nehru, former DMK minister and senior leader (File Photo)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
