The former Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) was found dead at his residence on Thursday - December 2. The Chairman, AV Venkatachalam, was facing corruption charges and the police have said that he had committed suicide and no suicide note was found. The officials had launched a probe into the incident. 

According to reports, Venkatachalam had served as the Chairman of the TNPCB during the previous ADMK regime and he had been under the scanner of Tamil Nadu anti-corruption agency Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). He was accused of criminal misconduct and the corruption has happened during the ADMK regime. The DVAC had filed a case against Venkatachalam with criminal misconduct and criminal misappropriation under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The case was filed against him this year, on September 23, after the change of power in the state, following a search at several places connected to him. DVAC had conducted raids in five places, including the TNPCB office and Venkatachalam's Salem and Chennai residencies. Following the raids, the DVAC had seized a cash amount of Rs 13.5 lakh, gold jewellery worth Rs 2.5 crore, around 10 kilograms of sandalwood items and pieces were identified at his residence. 

Venkatachalam had also served in the Indian Forest Service and got retired in 1994. He also had faced several charges previously including the accusation of criminal misconduct and misappropriation while serving as secretary of TNPCB in 2013-2014. He was also accused of demanding monetary benefits in exchange for Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate forms when he was the chairman of the pollution control board.

On Thursday, he was found dead at his residence in Velachery. The body was found by his wife following which the police was informed. His body was sent to Royapettah Government Hospital to conduct an autopsy and the police say no suicide note was recovered from his house.