Chennai: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) reopened the corruption case against former AIADMK minister Vaithilingam, who has since switched over to DMK and become an MLA from Orathanadu assembly constituency. The case relates to ₹27.9 crore bribery when he was holding Housing portfolio in the AIADMK cabinet.The anti-corruption bureau of the state agency has ordered a fresh probe into allegations that he received the amount as a bribe from a private construction company.According to officials, the bribery case was registered on Feb 24, 2024, during the DMK govt’s tenure, following a complaint alleging that Vaithilingam accepted ₹27.9 crore from a private construction firm in return for official favours. The case was subsequently taken up for investigation by the DVAC.Vaithilingam resigned from his MLA post in Jan and later left the AIADMK to join the DMK. During a recent court hearing on the bribery complaint, it was informed that the case against him was closed in Feb.The disclosure led to criticism from various quarters, with questions being raised over whether the closure of the case was linked to Vaithilingam’s decision to leave the AIADMK and join the DMK.Following these developments, DVAC director A Arun ordered a reinvestigation into the allegations. The agency has since reopened the case, and it will conduct a fresh inquiry into the bribery complaint and the circumstances surrounding the earlier closure of the investigation.
