ED director is in Tamil Nadu on three-day visit to review ongoing probes

CHENNAI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Rahul Navin is on a three-day visit to Tamil Nadu to review the status of various cases being handled by the agency under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Though officials maintained that it is a routine annual visit by the ED director and that he visits the other centres too, his three-day camp in the city has assumed significance coming as it does just ahead of the assembly polls in the state. However, ED sources were tight-lipped about the agenda of the official’s visit and said it was confidential.


The official landed in the city on Thursday evening, and the review meeting will take place at the ED’s Chennai office in Nungambakkam on Friday, according to sources. “Officials representing the entire southern region are expected to participate along with their legal team,” said sources. The ED director is expected to return to New Delhi on Saturday.

While state police are also keeping a close watch on the ED director’s visit, the latest Madras high court order in favour of the ED, directing the state police’s Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to file an FIR on corruption charges against the municipal administration department based on the ED’s communication, is expected to be discussed on Friday.

The ED wrote last year to the state chief secretary as well as the DGP and DVAC director, alleging corruption in the recruitment of around 2,538 candidates to the posts of assistant engineers in the municipal administration and water supply department. It was the first of the three letters sent to state officials regarding alleged malpractices in the department.