MADURAI: In the wake of alleged irregularities in the development works taken up by the Madurai Corporation under the Jawarharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) during the DMK regime, officials of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) wing raided five offices of the Corporation and grilled the officials till late Monday night.According to the Vigilance Department, the raid commenced simultaneously at 9.30 am at the five offices, including the four zonal offices of Madurai Corporation. The raid was conducted by a 30-member team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Esakki Ananthan. One of the teams grilled the Corporation officials at the office of the JNNURM on the third floor. Commissioner of Madurai Corporation S Sebastian was not available at the office on Monday as he had gone to Chennai for an official meeting.Prior to the raid, the DVAC officials had gathered details of the alleged scam for the past 10 days. Based on the details, the raids were conducted and incriminating documents seized from the Corporation officials.Though some of the DVAC officials claimed it as a surprise raid, it was said that the raid was conducted following complaints from the staff of the Madurai Corporation about irregularities in the scheme.According to sources, the Madurai Corporation had undertaken two major projects - Under Ground Drainage (UGD) system and Basic Service to the Urban Poor(BSUP) - under the JNNURM scheme at a cost of Rs 1,411 crore.Under the BSUP scheme, the work for constructing two types of concrete houses for the poor had been undertaken, for which bogus beneficiaries were allegedly selected by the Corporation officials and the aid was distributed.As the scam reportedly involves hundreds of crores, the DVAC officials continued their interrogation with the officials concerned till late in the evening. The inquiry will go on till Tuesday morning, it was said.
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