Enforcement Directorate sends fresh summons to former minister C Vijayabaskaran in disproportionate assets case

Fresh Summons

The Enforcement Directorate has issued a fresh summons to former minister C Vijayabaskaran asking him to appear for an inquiry in a disproportionate assets case. He earlier failed to show up at the Chennai zonal office on Friday, November 6, after an initial notice directed him and his wife to attend. Nakkheeran reports that a new date has now been set for coming Wednesday.

Case Details

Vijayabaskaran served as the health minister from 2016 to 2021 and also held office as the MLA for Viralimalai. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption previously filed a case against him in 2021 after accusing him of accumulating assets worth 35.79 crore rupees beyond his known income during his term. According to Nakkheeran, investigators filed a massive chargesheet spanning 2,233 pages in the Pudukottai district principal sessions court. Following the state agency case, the Enforcement Directorate launched its own probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Vijayabaskaran and his wife, conducting raids at his Iluppur residence in Pudukottai district this March and recording statements earlier in the year.

Context

Financial crime agencies in India regularly investigate public servants when state anti-corruption departments uncover massive wealth disproportionate to official earnings. These proceedings often involve multiple rounds of summons and document verification before any further legal steps are taken by the courts.