Madras HC cracks down on fake book purchases; orders FIR, freezing of accounts

Résumé détaillé

The Madras High Court ordered an FIR and disciplinary action over fraudulent library book procurement. The intervention exposes alleged repackaging of old works and demands transparent public spending.

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to identify officials responsible for fraudulent procurement of books for public libraries and take disciplinary action against them, including suspension, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The court also ordered the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to immediately register an FIR, freeze the bank accounts of Agal Vilakku Publication, its proprietor Mohan and others involved, and determine the amount spent on the books.

A Division Bench of Justices GR Swaminathan and MD Sumathi said the facts had emerged the previous week, but no FIR had been registered. The Madurai Bench directed the Director of Public Libraries to provide the names and details of officials responsible for fraudulent procurement of so-called books over the past two years and more.

"We also direct the DVAC to forthwith register an FIR. The bank account of Agal Vilakku Publication as well as Mohan, Proprietor and others involved shall be frozen immediately. The government shall immediately take disciplinary action, including suspension of the officials involved," the court said.

The bench directed librarians to prepare an inventory of the suspect books immediately and keep them away from readers. It also asked the authorities to inform the court of the exact amount spent on procuring them, PTI reported.

"All the relevant records shall be made available (photocopies). In particular, a report shall be filed before us in the form of an affidavit by the Director of Public Libraries setting out the entire sequence and trajectory of events. The persons involved from top to bottom shall be identified and named," the court said.

The bench warned that Tamil Nadu's public libraries could meet the fate of the destroyed Library of Alexandria if books were not procured in the public interest. It directed that procurement for public libraries must comply with the government order dated March 7, 2024.

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