TN Minister KN Nehru Seeks Review Of Madras High Court Order Directing FIR Against Him Based On ED Material
Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply, KN Nehru, has approached the Madras High Court seeking a review of the court's earlier order, directing the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to register an FIR against the Minister and others for alleged bribery in appointments to the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department, based on information shared by the Enforcement Directorate.
Appearing before a bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi (appearing for the Minister), submitted that the bench had ordered the registration of a case against him without even hearing him.
“I'm seeking review of an order accusing me of several things without even hearing me. I'm saying that till the time review is heard, the order should be suspended,” Rohatgi said.
When the court enquired if Nehru was not put to notice regarding the case, Rohatgi submitted that while the bench was still deciding on whether to hear Nehru, the registry had issued a notice to him, on the afternoon of February 4, after the matter was reserved for orders. He argued that the notice by the registry, was unauthorised and not issued by the court. He argued that even otherwise, the notice was received by him after the matter was reserved for orders.
“The registry issued a notice to me on afternoon of 4/2/26, after the matter was reserved for order. This notice was unauthorised. It was not issued by court. This is damning a party, without hearing,” Rohatgi said.
The court said that it would hear Nehru. It opined that on going through the records, it was not seen if Nehru had been put to notice in the case. However, noting that a detailed hearing was needed, the court decided to take up the case after vacations, in the last week of June.
Though Rohatgi urged the court to stay the order till such time, preventing an FIR against Nehru, the court noted that the original order did not specifically say that the FIR should be registered against Nehru. The court also took into record a submission by IS Indabudurai, a contempt petitioner, stating that they would not pursue the contempt during the vacation period.
The court thus adjourned the case to be heard in June.
Background
On February 20, the bench had directed the Tamil Nadu DVAC to register a case forthwith based on the materials shared by the Enforcement Directorate. The Court had also criticised the delay on the part of the State in proceeding with the investigation even after the ED had shared materials, which prima facie showed the commission of an offence. The court noted that in cases involving such sensitive issues, the State should have acted diligently and registered a case without delay.
Stating that no FIR had been registered against Nehru despite the court order, Rajya Sabha MP Inbadurai had approached the Madras High Court seeking action against IPS officer AT Durai Kumar (In-Charge Director of Directorate for Vigilance and Anti-Corruption) for alleged wilful disobedience of the High Court order.
When the contempt petition came up for hearing previously, the Advocate General informed the court that the delay in registering an FIR was only because the state was contemplating filing a review against the order directing registration of the FIR. Following this, the State had filed a review petition.
Case Title: KN Nehru v IS Inbadurai and Others
Case No: Rev Aplwp Crl 3 of 2026