Tamil Nadu CM cites 50-year-old Sarkaria report and ED claims against DMK in Assembly

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday invoked the findings of the Sarkaria Commission, a one-man inquiry set up in 1976, against the DMK during the Assembly debate on grants for the Police and Fire and Rescue Services departments. The commission had investigated allegations of corruption and abuse of power against the then DMK government led by the late M. Karunanidhi. The commission was appointed after the DMK government was dismissed by the Centre during the Emergency period in 1976.

The commission focused notably on the Veeranam water supply project, a scheme intended to provide drinking water to Chennai from Veeranam lake in Cuddalore district. Its terms of reference included charges that DMK-linked persons demanded commissions from contractors involved in the project.

In the Assembly, Mr. Vijay said, “Fifty years have passed since the Sarkaria Commission is known to us. It is a golden jubilee achievement of a party that has celebrated its diamond jubilee.” He noted that the report was raised in the House in 2001 by the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and her Cabinet colleague C. Ponnaiyan.

Detailing the report’s findings, Mr. Vijay said it claimed that Murasoli Maran, a senior DMK leader and nephew of Karunanidhi, demanded a 2.5 per cent commission from the company Sathyanarayana Brothers in connection with the tender for the Veeranam scheme. The commission, he said, alleged that the party received ₹29 lakh in seven instalments from 1970 to 1974, besides money for constructing a building for the party organ Murasoli.

The Chief Minister also quoted the report as saying Karunanidhi had “abused his official position” and put pressure on a senior Public Works Department engineer named Hussain to reduce the tender amount. “The following charges have been established by cogent, convincing and reliable evidence — oral, documentary and circumstantial,” he said, quoting the commission.

Mr. Vijay clarified that he held respect and admiration for Karunanidhi and had earlier apologised for referring to him by name. “These are not my allegations. They are part of the report and the allegations of the ED,” he said, adding that he had no need to raise these issues but was responding to those speaking about “legacy and seniority in politics.”

In addition, Mr. Vijay cited an Enforcement Directorate (ED) report accusing the DMK of collecting between 7.5 per cent and 10 per cent from government departments as “party funds.” He said the ED alleged that the bribe in the form of party fund was collected from the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department and other state government works for the benefit of the party. He asserted that these were the ED’s own words, not his.

The DMK has historically rejected the Sarkaria Commission’s findings as politically motivated and has argued that Mr. Karunanidhi was never convicted in connection with the probe. The ED document referred to by Mr. Vijay is an investigative report that has not resulted in a judicial finding. The Assembly recorded no immediate response from the DMK on Monday on the Chief Minister’s remarks.