PMK demands CBI inquiry into alleged paddy transport scam

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has demanded a CBI investigation into the alleged multi-crore paddy transport scam.

Mr. Anbumani inspected Vasishta River at Attur in Salem on Friday and participated in the protest along with farmers to save the river.

Demanding CBI investigations into the alleged multi-crore paddy transport scam, Mr. Anbumani told the media that for the contract in moving paddy from director procurement centres to Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) godowns, it is alleged that there is a ₹200-crore scam. Only the CBI would be able to inquire into this scam. The DMK gave 505 promises during the previous Assembly election and only 66 were fulfilled, Mr. Anbumani said.

Responding to a question on a possible third front in the 2026 Assembly elections, Mr. Anbumani said, “We will know about this in the coming days.”

Stating that the three most polluted rivers in the country were flowing in Salem district, Dr. Anbumani said the Central Pollution Control Board tested 623 river waters in the country and the results showed 37 rivers were the most polluted, including five in Tamil Nadu. The governments that ruled the State for the past 60 years had no plans to use the river water in Salem. Every government should give priority to allocating funds for water management.

Demanding ₹5,000 crore for the Mettur surplus scheme, Mr. Anbumani said that in the past four months, the Mettur dam attained its full capacity seven times and around 50 tmc of surplus water discharged from the dam and wastefully drained into the sea. The PMK was protesting for the past 30 years to divert five tmc of surplus water to the Sarabanga, Thirumanimutharu, and Vasishta rivers.

While Edappadi K. Palaniswami was Chief Minister, he announced the Mettur surplus scheme to fill lakes in four Assembly constituencies at ₹565 crore. The Tamil Nadu Government should allocate ₹5,000 crore for the Mettur surplus water scheme to fill more than 1,500 water bodies in Salem district. Through this, the groundwater would be recharged and within three or four years, groundwater level would rise, Mr. Anbumani added.