Bribes, jobs and power: Inside Tamil Nadu’s explosive MAWS recruitment scandal
The Opposition in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of ignoring a letter from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleging large-scale corruption in the recruitment of 2,538 posts in the state’s Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department.
In a letter dated October 27, the ED informed the Tamil Nadu police that bribes of ₹25-35 lakh per post were allegedly collected during the recruitment process.
The central agency claimed it unearthed the evidence while probing a separate bank fraud case in April 2025, where seized digital devices revealed messages, photos, and transaction records related to the MAWS recruitment for 2024–25 and 2025–26.
“The appointment letters to about 2,500 candidates were issued by the Chief Minister on August 6, 2025,” the ED’s letter said, adding that “the findings are shocking and alarming,” and that the evidence “clearly shows huge manipulations in the selection and examination process.”
According to the agency, public servants, politicians, and their associates were involved in a scam it described as “just the tip of the iceberg.”
The ED claimed that its 232-page annexure contained photos, hawala notes, WhatsApp chats, and details of cash transactions with around 150 candidates.
The evidence has been shared with the Tamil Nadu police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for further investigation.
The Opposition seized on the ED’s letter to mount a political attack on the DMK. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that the “₹800-crore scam” was orchestrated by Water Supply Minister KN Nehru, his family members, and officials. “Under the DMK, there is corruption everywhere,” he said.
BJP leader K Annamalai demanded a CBI probe, saying, “The DMK has crushed the dreams of thousands of candidates with its greed.”
Minister KN Nehru, however, dismissed the allegations as part of a “politically motivated smear campaign” by the BJP-led Union government ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.
He said the recruitment drive, which began in 2019 under the previous AIADMK regime, was conducted transparently by Anna University, which evaluated the written exams held across 591 centres in 38 districts.
“Over one lakh candidates appeared, and not a single complaint was received, proving the fairness of the process,” he asserted.