Citing findings from a raid conducted earlier this year, the Enforcement Directorate has written to the Tamil Nadu police on Monday, alleging a cash for jobs scam in the recruitment of officers and staff for 2,538 posts in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department. The appointment letters for these positions were handed over by Chief Minister MK Stalin on August 6.

In a communication sent under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to the Head of Police Force in Tamil Nadu, the ED said that bribes between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 35 lakh were collected for each post by influential politicians and people close to them. The agency alleged that the exam process conducted in mid-2024 was manipulated, and appointment orders were issued to at least 150 candidates in August 2025. It has also asked for an inquiry into the officials of Anna University who were responsible for conducting the examination.

Along with the letter, the ED shared a 232-page dossier containing the names of the alleged key figures in the scam and a detailed account of their roles. The document also describes how the examination was allegedly rigged and includes information about 150 candidates who were favoured in the process, along with evidence tracing how the bribe money was collected and transferred through intermediaries. When contacted, MAWS Secretary D Karthikeyan said he was not aware of any such letter from the ED and maintained that the recruitment process was “perfectly fine” and without any irregularities.

The alleged scam involves the appointment of 2,538 assistant engineers, town planning officers, junior engineers, and sanitary inspectors in the MAWS department in August this year. Around 1.12 lakh candidates had applied for these positions in early 2024.

According to the ED, the details came to light while investigating the money laundering aspect of a bank fraud case related to True Value Homes, a company linked to MAWS Minister KN Nehru’s brother, N. Ravichandran.