Chennai, Sep 13 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials are conducting raids and searches at the residences of former state health minister and AIADMK leader C. Vijayabhaskar and former Local administration minister S.P. Velumani.

The raids that commenced on Tuesday morning are being carried out at several places connected with the former minister Vijayabhaskar, including his residence and 12 other places in a corruption case.

The DVAC sleuths are conducting raids at 10 places linked with S.P. Velumani in a separate case of corruption.

According to sources, the case is related to irregularities in granting the Essentiality Certificate in 2020 to Vels Medical College and Hospital which was against the National Medical Commission regulations.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the former minister and a seven-member team of the DVAC is conducting raids since this morning.

The searches, according to DVAC officials, are being conducted at Chennai, Salem, Theni, Madurai, and Thiruvallur districts at places connected with the former minister.

C. Viajyabhaskar was not present at his residence during the raids.

Raids are also being carried out at 10 places connected with former Local Administration Minister and AIADMK leader Velumani. The raids, according to the DVAC officers, followed a complaint against him for awarding tenders to his close associates in purchase of street lights. This is the third time the agency is conducting raids at his premises in different cases.

In a statement this morning, the DVAC said that by the actions of the former minister Velumani in the purchase of LED lights for street lights, the state has lost Rs 500 crore.