50 years on, Sarkaria Commission rocks Tamil Nadu Assembly again

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday (September 7, 2026) singled out the DMK, the main Opposition in the Assembly, and invoked the nearly 50-year old Sarkaria Commission inquiry into the DMK government headed by M. Karunanidhi, the Veeranam “scandal” and the report by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on the alleged collection of “party funds.”

“Fifty years have passed since the Sarkaria Commission is known to us. It is a golden jubilee achievement of a party that has celebrated its diamond jubilee,” he said while replying to the demands for grants for the Police and Fire and Rescue Services departments.

Mr. Vijay said the Sarkaria Commission report was raised in the Assembly in 2001 by the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and her Cabinet colleague C. Ponnaiyan. He alleged late Murasoli Maran, the nephew of Karunanidhi, had demanded a 2.5% commission on ₹16 crore from the company ‘Sathyanarayana Brothers’ for taking part in the tender proceedings for the Veeranam water scheme.

Quoting the report, Mr. Vijay said the DMK had received ₹29 lakh in seven instalments between 1970 and 1974. “Besides, they received money to construct a building for Murasoli,” he said, recalling the report’s allegation that Karunanidhi had “abused his official position as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”

Mr. Vijay said, according to the report, Karunanidhi had pressured the Chief Engineer of the PWD, Hussain, to reduce the tender amount. “The following charges have been established by cogent, convincing and reliable evidence — oral, documentary and circumstantial,” he said, quoting the report.

The Chief Minister said he had respect and admiration for Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) and had previously apologised for referring to him by name (in the House). “These are not my allegations. They are part of the report and the allegations of the ED,” he said.

Mr. Vijay said he had no need to raise these issues, but was doing so in response to those who spoke about “legacy and seniority in politics.” “They may run away if we talk about these issues,” he added.

Mr. Vijay said the ED had accused the DMK of collecting between 7.5% and 10% as party funds.

“The bribe collected in the form of party fund from the departments — Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department. Government works in the form of party fund. The bribe in the form of party fund is collected for the benefit of the party in Tamil Nadu government,” he charged, quoting the ED report.