Madras High Court denies interim relief to DMK’s ex-Minister E.V. Velu, his son in lake bed excavation case
The Madras High Court has denied interim relief to former DMK Minister E.V. Velu and his son in a case involving the alleged illegal excavation of sand from a lake. The petitioners argue the case is politically motivated following a change in state government.
Why it matters
The case underscores the legal challenges faced by political figures in Tamil Nadu and the role of anti-corruption NGOs in local governance accountability.
The Madras High Court on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) refused to grant interim relief to DMK’s former Minister and incumbent Party Whip in Tamil Nadu Assembly E.V. Velu (76) and his son E.V. Kumaran (48) in a case booked against them for allegedly excavating 45,72,058 cubic feet of sand from Malappambadi lake in Tiruvannamalai district for levelling the venue of the party’s north zone youth wing conference held on December 14, 2025.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan rejected the plea for an ex-parte interim stay and ordered notice, returnable by November 6, to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) on individual petitions filed by the father and son to quash the First Information Report (FIR) registered against them on September 24, 2026. Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam, the anti-corruption NGO was the complainant.
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