High Court Orders Police Case in Periyar Library Book Scam

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to lodge a police case regarding alleged irregularities in the procurement of books for public libraries in Tamil Nadu. This order was issued during a contempt petition hearing, which claimed that authorities failed to comply with a previous court directive for transparent procurement. The court also ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to Agal Vilakku Publications and its proprietor, Mohan. The court mandated the government to initiate disciplinary action against officials involved in the alleged scam. The Director of Public Libraries has been instructed to identify responsible officials and disclose the total amount spent on book procurement. An affidavit detailing the sequence of events and identifying all involved parties is also required. This case stems from a June 2024 order that emphasized adherence to the Transparent Book Procurement Policy.