ED Raids 18 Locations in Tamil Nadu Over Teacher Recruitment Exam Manipulation Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at multiple locations across Tamil Nadu as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged teacher recruitment examination manipulation case.

According to officials, the agency carried out raids at nearly 18 premises in Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore and Madurai under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) . The searches are based on a case originally registered by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Greater Chennai Police in 2017.

The investigation pertains to allegations of irregularities and manipulation in the teacher recruitment process, with investigators probing claims that candidates may have secured appointments through unlawful means. The police subsequently filed a chargesheet in 2021, paving the way for the ED to examine the suspected financial transactions and alleged proceeds of crime connected to the case.

Officials said the money laundering probe seeks to trace the movement of funds and identify individuals who may have benefited from the alleged recruitment scam. Details regarding seizures, recoveries or arrests were not immediately available.

The case has also carried political undertones, with opposition parties in the state and leaders of rival political formations previously raising concerns over alleged irregularities in public recruitment examinations and demanding accountability. The issue has frequently been cited in debates over transparency and fairness in government hiring processes.

The ruling establishment, however, has maintained that investigations should be allowed to proceed independently and that responsibility for any wrongdoing will be determined through due legal process.

The ED's latest action marks a significant escalation in the probe, as the agency seeks to uncover the alleged money trail behind the recruitment examination manipulation case. Further details are expected to emerge once the searches are completed and the agency analyses the evidence collected during the raids.