Chennai, October 29: India’s federal financial crime agency has alleged irregularities in a major recruitment drive conducted by Tamil Nadu’s Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department, prompting a strong rebuttal from state minister K.N. Nehru, who dismissed the claims as politically motivated.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) wrote to the Tamil Nadu government earlier this week, saying that the selection of candidates for 2,538 posts in the MAWS department was influenced by officials. The recruitment process was conducted by Chennai-based Anna University.
Rejecting the allegation, Minister Nehru said on Tuesday that the ED’s communication was “another attempt to malign the reputation of the Dravidian model of governance” led by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He said necessary legal steps would be taken against what he called a politically driven effort to discredit the state government.
“This political action, undertaken under the Union government’s direction, is aimed only at tarnishing the image of the Tamil Nadu administration,” Nehru said in a statement.
According to the minister, the recruitment process began with a notification issued by Anna University on Feb. 2, 2024, to fill 2,019 posts, later expanded to 2,569. A total of 200,499 applications were received, and examinations were held across 591 centres in 38 districts.
Nehru said Anna University independently evaluated the tests and released results on Sept. 20, 2024, without receiving a single objection. Certificate verification and interviews were held for 7,272 candidates, and 2,538 were selected based on merit and reservation norms.
The minister added that the recruitment process had been subject to legal scrutiny and the final results were declared only after a Supreme Court order on July 4, 2025. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin subsequently handed over appointment orders to successful candidates.
Nehru said Anna University, ranked among India’s leading institutions, was not under the control of the MAWS Department, and had conducted similar recruitments for the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) governments between 2012 and 2017.
“It is amusing that the ED now claims official interference in exams held under Anna University’s supervision,” Nehru said, accusing the agency of acting with “political intention.” The ED has not yet issued a public statement detailing its allegations.
