Madras High Court denies interim relief to ex-DMK minister in lake excavation case

The Madras High Court has declined to grant interim relief to E.V. Velu, the former minister in the DMK government, and his son in a case involving alleged unauthorised excavation of a lake bed. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan rejected their petitions seeking to quash the First Information Report registered against them, while issuing a notice to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to file its response by November 6.

The two accused had approached the court seeking immediate relief from the criminal proceedings initiated against them. However, the court found insufficient grounds to intervene at this stage, maintaining that the matter requires further examination of the facts and legal positions presented by the investigating agency.

The DVAC's response, expected by the stipulated deadline, will form the basis for the court's subsequent consideration of the petitions. The case centres on alleged illegal excavation activities at a lake bed, with the investigation being conducted by the anti-corruption directorate. The court's decision to await the DVAC's submissions suggests the judicial process will proceed through its normal course, with the next hearing likely to follow once the investigating agency presents its counter-arguments.