Chennai | The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Chennai Zonal Office, has conducted extensive search operations at 21 premises across Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, and Coimbatore in connection with the alleged tampering of OMR answer sheets in the 2017 Lecturers Recruitment Examination for Government Polytechnic Colleges conducted by the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB).
The searches were carried out on June 23, 2026, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The action forms part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to one of Tamil Nadu’s most significant recruitment examination scandals.
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The ED initiated its probe on the basis of an FIR registered by Tamil Nadu Police in 2017. According to the allegations, during the post-examination scanning process at the Teachers Recruitment Board, the accused persons arranged an additional set of 385 secondary OMR sheets carrying the names of selected candidates. These answer sheets were allegedly used to digitally alter examination records and manipulate the recruitment process.
Investigators claim that as a result of the alleged tampering, 262 undeserving candidates were fraudulently shown as qualified for appointment as Polytechnic Lecturers. The alleged manipulation came to light following public petitions challenging the recruitment process, leading authorities to re-evaluate the examination results, withdraw the recruitment list, and initiate criminal proceedings.
The first chargesheet in the case was filed by Tamil Nadu Police in 2021, while a second supplementary chargesheet was submitted in October 2023.
According to the ED, its investigation revealed that the conspiracy was allegedly led by V. Subramanian and his associate Suresh Paul, with the assistance of technical personnel associated with M/s Datatec, including Shaik Dawood Nassar and I. Raghupati. Investigators allege that the group orchestrated a systematic operation to manipulate examination outcomes in exchange for money.
The probe found that a network of agents and middlemen allegedly approached willing candidates and collected between ₹14 lakh and ₹16 lakh in cash from each candidate in return for securing favourable results. The illegally collected funds were allegedly routed through mule bank accounts, proxy business entities including Trust Enterprises, Wisdom Enterprises, and Suriyam Enterprises, as well as accounts belonging to associates and family members.
According to investigators, the money was subsequently layered and invested in immovable properties and jewellery to conceal its origin and ownership.
The searches were aimed at tracing the proceeds of crime generated through the alleged recruitment scam. During the operation, the ED seized several incriminating materials, including records relating to cash collections allegedly maintained by agents and accused persons.
Officials also recovered carbon copies of OMR sheets linked to various government recruitment examinations, which were allegedly retained by the accused and their associates. Copies of educational and identification certificates belonging to candidates, digital evidence, electronic records, and other documents relevant to the investigation were also seized.
The ED further stated that cash amounting to ₹13.18 lakh was recovered and seized during the searches. In addition, 56 bank accounts and two demat accounts linked to the accused network have been frozen as part of the ongoing financial investigation.
Investigators also seized documents relating to 36 immovable properties held in the names of the accused persons and their associates. According to the agency, these properties have a government guidance value of approximately ₹9.67 crore, while their current market value is estimated to exceed ₹20 crore.
Officials believe the seized documents and digital evidence will help establish the money trail, identify additional beneficiaries, and determine the full extent of financial gains allegedly derived from the recruitment fraud.
The ED said further investigation is continuing to trace additional assets, examine financial transactions, and identify all individuals who may have benefited from the alleged manipulation of the recruitment process. The agency is also analysing the seized records to determine whether similar methods were used in other government examinations.
