DVAC books DMK MLA E.V. Velu, son in Malappambadi lake-bed excavation case

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a case against DMK MLA E.V. Velu, a former Minister for Highways, Minor Ports and Public Works, his son E.V. Kumaran, a number of public servants and contractors in connection with the alleged unauthorised excavation of lake-bed material in Malappambadi village, Tiruvannamalai district.

The case follows a complaint filed by Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of Arappor Iyakkam. The agency's allegation is that Mr. Velu misused his official position to facilitate the excavation and removal of material from Malappambadi Lake, which spans roughly 12 acres, to level the ground for a DMK Northern Zone Youth Wing Conference held in December 2025.

According to the FIR, excavation was carried out to a depth of about 10 to 23 feet between November 2025 and the first week of December 2025, with the involvement of officials from the Revenue Department, the Collectorate, the Corporation and other agencies. About 45,72,058 cubic feet of lake-bed sand is alleged to have been removed from roughly eight acres of the waterbody, causing an estimated loss of ₹8.22 crore to the exchequer.

The agency has also alleged that an approach road was illegally widened and laid across the tank bund and foreshore area of the lake, extending up to the entrance gate of Mr. Velu's family property, where the conference was held. No permission was obtained from the Revenue Department, the Corporation or the Geology and Mining Department in Tiruvannamalai district for the excavation and removal of gravel and lake-bed material.

Verification carried out with the assistance of Revenue and Geology and Mining Department officials is said to have found unauthorised excavation and mining of soil and gravel at multiple locations within the lake area, corroborating the complaint.

In November 2025, Arul Arumugam, a former office-bearer of an organisation, submitted petitions to district authorities alleging illegal excavation. The FIR states that no effective action was taken to halt the work, determine the extent of the unauthorised extraction, identify those responsible or initiate proceedings.

The DVAC said such deliberate inaction, despite knowledge of the illegal excavation, prima facie indicates connivance with those involved and an intentional failure to discharge statutory duties, thereby enabling the removal of lake-bed material.