DVAC searches places linked to former DMK MLA, industrialist Sekar Reddy in Vellore

Based on orders from the Superintendent of Police, N.U. Sivaraman, police personnel were deployed in front of the former MLA’s house to prevent any untoward incidents. | Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy Sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) have conducted searches at places including houses linked to former DMK MLA of Vellore’s Anaicut Assembly constituency A.P. Nandakumar and industrialist and former member of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) J. Sekar Reddy at Katpadi in Vellore on Thursday.DVAC sources said searches began around 8 a.m. at their house in the village, with teams from Vellore and Ranipet led by Deputy SP (DVAC) S. Ganesan (Ranipet) and Raju (Vellore) roped in. Mr. Nandakumar, a two-time former MLA from the constituency, was present during the searches in the house. However, Mr. Sekar Reddy was not present at the time of searches.It is learnt that searches are part of the ongoing probe at 25 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to former Minister and DMK leader K.N. Nehru in connection with an alleged ₹634-crore cash-for-jobs scam in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department.DVAC sources said that two separate teams, with at least six officials, were involved in the searches. The searches at Mr. Sekar Reddy’s house ended at 10.45 a.m., whereas searches at Mr. Nandakumar’s house concluded after more than 11 hours.A large number of DMK supporters and local functionaries were present in front of Mr. Nandakumar’s house at Katpadi. Based on orders from the Superintendent of Police, N.U. Sivaraman, police personnel were deployed in front of the former MLA’s house to prevent any untoward incidents.After the searches, Mr. Nandakumar said, “We (DMK) are not afraid of DVAC searches, which are being done in view of expected bypolls in Assembly constituencies that have been imposed by the TVK government on people. The DMK will emerge victorious in the bypolls. We have not done anything wrong. DVAC has not seized anything from my house.” Published - October 29, 2026 08:05 pm IST