Madras HC dismisses former DMK Minister K.N. Nehru’s review plea in cash-for-jobs scam

Chennai, Oct 26 : The Madras High Court on Monday dismissed a review petition filed by senior DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister K.N. Nehru challenging its earlier order directing the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to immediately register an FIR in the multi-crore cash-for-jobs scam allegedly involving appointments during the previous DMK regime.

A First Bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan dismissed the petition, paving the way for the state anti-corruption agency to proceed with its investigation.

Nehru had approached the court seeking a review of its February 20, 2026, order directing the DVAC to register a criminal case against him.

The controversy relates to a communication and a 232-page dossier submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police in October 2025. The ED alleged that bribes amounting to Rs 634 crore had been collected for the appointment of 2,538 assistant engineers, junior engineers and town planning officers in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department.

The First Bench had reserved its orders on Nehru's review petition on August 10 after hearing detailed arguments from the former Minister, the DVAC and the state government. The court had also extended its interim order restraining further proceedings in the case registered against Nehru until the disposal of the review petition.

Earlier, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan had directed the DVAC to register a corruption case against Nehru based on the ED's communication and materials.

The direction came on a petition filed by AIADMK MP I.S. Inbadurai, who sought an FIR based on his representation dated December 13, 2025, and the material shared by the ED.

The Rajya Sabha MP argued that registration of an FIR was mandatory when detailed information from a statutory agency disclosed cognizable offences, as established under Supreme Court rulings.

Appearing for the state, Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that although the ED had forwarded its communication along with supporting documents, the previous DMK government had taken no action and had allegedly shielded the former Minister.

He also informed the court that Nehru had been issued a notice in connection with Inbadurai's petition and given an opportunity to respond, but the DMK leader had not availed himself of the opportunity.

Counsel appearing for Nehru argued that the order directing registration of an FIR had been passed without hearing him, thereby affecting his legal rights. They also contended that the present government had no authority to withdraw the review petition filed during the previous regime.

Rejecting the arguments against immediate registration of the case, the Bench held that an FIR was mandatory under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). It observed that the material furnished by the ED under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), relating to 2,538 appointments, could not be kept pending through a prolonged preliminary inquiry.

The court further observed that the ED's material disclosed a prima facie commission of cognizable offences and that the state could not delay FIR registration by continuing preliminary inquiries.

With the dismissal of Nehru's review petition, the DVAC can proceed with the corruption case in accordance with the court's earlier directions.