The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has raised allegations of massive corruption in the recruitment process of Tamil Nadu’s Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department, claiming that bribes of ₹25-35 lakh per post were exchanged for filling 2,538 positions. The ED’s revelations, contained in a letter dated October 27, 2025, to the Tamil Nadu police, have sparked a political dispute, with the state government dismissing the claims as politically motivated ahead of next year’s assembly elections.

According to the ED, while investigating a bank fraud case in April 2025, evidence emerged suggesting that officials involved in the MAWS recruitment process for 2024-25 and 2025-26 had engaged in corrupt practices. The agency alleged that digital devices seized during the investigation contained incriminating materials, including photographs, WhatsApp chats, documents, and cash transaction records, pointing to bribery and manipulation in the selection process.

“The appointment letters for about 2,500 candidates were issued by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at a public event on August 6, 2025,” the ED noted. “Our analysis of the recovered digital evidence shows massive manipulations in the examination and selection process. Bribes ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹35 lakh per post, depending on the rank and nature of the position, were allegedly collected for securing appointments.”

The ED’s letter also attached a 232-page note detailing the evidence, including cash transactions, hawala notes, photographs, and documents linking public servants, politicians, and their associates to the alleged scam. The agency asserted that these findings suggest a case of corruption, cheating, and money laundering, affecting thousands of candidates who appeared for the recruitment examinations. It described the evidence as merely the “tip of the iceberg” of a much larger scam.

Following this, the ED forwarded the evidence to the Tamil Nadu police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for further investigation.

Political Fallout

The allegations immediately triggered criticism from opposition parties in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK and BJP accused the DMK government of overseeing a massive ₹800 crore corruption scandal, specifically targeting Water Supply Minister K N Nehru. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami claimed that bribes had been collected by Nehru, his brothers, and officials, asserting, “Under the DMK, there is corruption everywhere in everything.” BJP former state president K Annamalai demanded a CBI investigation, alleging that the recruitment process under the DMK had crushed the aspirations of thousands of candidates.

Government Response

In response, Minister K N Nehru denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated and a smear campaign orchestrated by the BJP-led Union government in the run-up to Tamil Nadu’s assembly elections. Nehru clarified that the recruitment process for MAWS vacancies began in 2019 under the previous AIADMK government, which left a large number of posts unfilled.

He explained that due to accumulated vacancies, administrative challenges had intensified, prompting the current government to expedite the recruitment process. According to the minister, 100,000 candidates appeared for written examinations held at 591 centres across 38 districts, with evaluations conducted independently by Anna University, Chennai. Nehru emphasized that no complaints were received from any of the candidates regarding the fairness of the process.

Context and Implications

The controversy highlights the challenges of transparency in large-scale government recruitment exercises, especially in politically charged environments. While the ED has pointed to evidence suggesting manipulation and bribery in the MAWS department, the state government maintains that the process was conducted independently, and that allegations of bribery are unsubstantiated.

The MAWS department, responsible for the management of municipal administration and water supply in Tamil Nadu, has seen substantial recruitment needs due to accumulated vacancies, especially in light of increased urban infrastructure demands. Filling these positions is critical for effective service delivery, particularly in water supply and municipal administration sectors.

The ED’s letter and attached evidence focus on alleged financial irregularities linked to the recruitment of over 2,500 candidates, with claims that bribes of ₹25-35 lakh per post were collected. If substantiated, these allegations point to a significant breach of public trust and the misuse of state resources. The investigation will examine the role of public officials, political leaders, and intermediaries in facilitating the alleged corruption.

Way Forward

The Tamil Nadu police are expected to review the evidence forwarded by the ED and may initiate further investigation under relevant sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Political pressure is likely to increase in the coming weeks, especially given the proximity of assembly elections, as opposition parties continue to demand accountability and transparency.

Meanwhile, the government’s emphasis on the independent evaluation of candidates by a reputed institution like Anna University is an attempt to counter allegations of bias or manipulation in the recruitment process. The state administration maintains that all appointments were carried out according to due procedure, and that no candidate has reported irregularities in the recruitment examinations.