Vijay Government Transfers DVAC Chief Arun Amid Court Scrutiny and Political Controversy
The Tamil Nadu government has transferred DVAC Chief Arun within two months of his appointment after court observations and political criticism, appointing Maheshwari as the new head with immediate effect.
A major administrative reshuffle has created a buzz in the Tamil Nadu bureaucracy after the Vijay government transferred senior IPS officer A Arun from the post of Director of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption DVAC just two months after his appointment. He has now been posted as the Director of the Tamil Nadu Police Academy in Chennai.
Following the transfer, Additional Chief Secretary K Manivasan issued immediate orders appointing Inspector General of Police C Maheshwari as the new DVAC Chief with full additional charge. The decision came into effect without delay, making the change one of the most discussed developments in the state administration.
The appointment of Arun had been under intense scrutiny since it was announced after the Assembly elections in late May. Several political parties, including Vijay’s TVK when it was in the opposition, had earlier accused him of displaying bias in favour of the DMK during his tenure as Chennai Police Commissioner. During the election period, the Election Commission had also reportedly sidelined him following complaints related to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
The controversy deepened after the Madras High Court questioned the decision to appoint Arun as the head of the state’s anti corruption agency. The court observed that officials holding such sensitive positions must remain above suspicion and maintain the highest standards of integrity.
During the hearing, the High Court remarked that the head of the anti corruption department should be as spotless as the moon and free from even the slightest doubt. The bench also recalled the legacy of respected former officers who had previously held the position, stressing that any controversy surrounding the office could weaken public confidence in the institution.
According to sources in the state secretariat, the combination of judicial observations and sustained political criticism is believed to have influenced the Vijay government’s decision to replace Arun swiftly, making the transfer one of the most significant bureaucratic developments in recent weeks.
