Shocking complaint against former ADMK Minister SP Velumani: What's the dispute?

The Tamil Nadu Opposition party ADMK has been reeling with a slew of troubles amid the ongoing leadership crisis and intra-party tussles. While the ADMK leadership was stunned to learn about former minister Rajenthra Balaji's plan to join the BJP, the party has invited a new tension on Monday as a shocking complaint has been filed against former minister SP Velumani. 

According to reports, a complaint was filed against SP Velumani on Monday at the Office of Chennai Police Commissioner. The complainant, Thiruvengadam, has alleged that Velumani had cheated him of Rs 1.20 crore by promising him to provide the government contracts. Thiruvengadam, who is a native of Coimbatore, has further said that he was intimidated by Velumani and the former minister had threatened to kill him when he asked to repay the money.

The reports say that Thiruvengadam was earlier with the ADMK and close Kinathukadavu Damodaran, who was the erstwhile strongman of ADMK in the Western region. After SP Velumani rose to power in the ADMK, Thiruvengadam had paid Rs 1.20 crore in two instalments to the former minister with the assurance of government contracts. It has been reported that he had paid the money to Velumani in 2014. However, no such contract was given to him and he accused Velumani of swindling his money. 
 
Thiruvengadam had joined the DMK and has been serving as the DMK's circle secretary in Coimbatore and he had approached Velumani several times asking him to repay his money by stating that he had arranged the money by selling his properties. However, Velumani had refused to pay and as per his complaint, the former minister had threatened to kill him if he asks to repay the money. 

Velumani had used his ministerial influence previously to intimidate him and after years of fight, Thiruvengadam had filed a case against Velumani as the ADMK had lost its power in the state.SP Velumani, who is one of the bigheads in ADMK, had served as the Minister for Local Administration in the previous rule and he has been close to former Chief Minister and current Opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami. 

The reports say that based on the complaint, the police will so be filing a case and launching a probe against Velumani, who recently won the assembly polls from the Thondamuthur constituency in Coimbatore. If the state police file a case against Velumani, he will become the second ADMK leader to face legal consequences after MK Stalin formed the government. The first was former Transport Minister MR Vijayabaskar, who invited a case from Tamil Nadu's Anti-Corruption squad for allegedly amassing more wealth beyond his income while he was serving as the minister.

A case was filed against MR Vijayabaskar under the grounds of Disproportionate Assets and his residence and properties were raided last month by the authorities. On the other hand, former ADMK Minister Rajenthra Balaji has taken a flight to Delhi on Sunday with the plan of joining the BJP. It was speculated that he will be joining the BJP in the presence of Amit Shah and JP Nadda. However, ADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami has asserted that Rajenthra Balaji has no plans to join the BJP and he will remain with the ADMK. 

 

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