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 primary Opposition within the Meeting, and invoked the almost 50-year old Sarkaria Commission inquiry into the DMK authorities headed by M. Karunanidhi, the Veeranam “scandal” and the report by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on the alleged assortment of “occasion funds.”

“Fifty years have handed because the Sarkaria Fee is thought to us. It’s a golden jubilee achievement of a celebration that has celebrated its diamond jubilee,” he mentioned whereas replying to the calls for for grants for the Police and Fireplace and Rescue Companies departments.

Mr. Vijay mentioned the Sarkaria Fee report was raised within the Meeting in 2001 by the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and her Cupboard colleague C. Ponnaiyan. He alleged late Murasoli Maran, the nephew of Karunanidhi, had demanded a 2.5% fee on ₹16 crore from the corporate ‘Sathyanarayana Brothers’ for participating within the tender proceedings for the Veeranam water scheme.

Quoting the report, Mr. Vijay mentioned the DMK had obtained ₹29 lakh in seven instalments between 1970 and 1974. “Apart from, they obtained cash to assemble a constructing for Murasoli,” he mentioned, recalling the report’s allegation that Karunanidhi had “abused his official place as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”

Mr. Vijay mentioned, in line with the report, Karunanidhi had pressured the Chief Engineer of the PWD, Hussain, to scale back the tender quantity. “The next prices have been established by cogent, convincing and dependable proof — oral, documentary and circumstantial,” he mentioned, quoting the report.

The Chief Minister mentioned he had respect and admiration for Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) and had beforehand apologised for referring to him by identify (within the Home). “These aren’t my allegations. They’re a part of the report and the allegations of the ED,” he mentioned.

Mr. Vijay mentioned he had no want to boost these points, however was doing so in response to those that spoke about “legacy and seniority in politics.” “They might run away if we discuss these points,” he added.

Mr. Vijay mentioned the ED had accused the DMK of accumulating between 7.5% and 10% as occasion funds.

“The bribe collected within the type of occasion fund from the departments — Municipal Administration and Water Provide Division. Authorities works within the type of occasion fund. The bribe within the type of occasion fund is collected for the advantage of the occasion in Tamil Nadu authorities,” he charged, quoting the ED report.