The Madras High Court on Friday raised serious concerns over the alleged involvement of a politically connected private firm in Tamil Nadu’s flagship ‘Sanipreneurs’ scheme, aimed at mechanising sanitation and eliminating manual scavenging.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by political commentator and YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar has prompted the court to demand accountability from the state government. The PIL calls for a CBI probe into allegations of corruption and misuse of the scheme. The division bench, comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan, directed the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) to submit detailed records by May 21. The judges specifically questioned whether Veeramani Radhakrishnan, nephew of Tamil Nadu Congress chief Selvaperunthagai, holds a directorial position in Gengreen Logistics and Management, the firm tasked with executing the scheme. “If it is true, then you’re in trouble,” the bench warned the state counsel during the proceedings.
Launched as a progressive sanitation initiative, the Sanipreneurs programme aims to provide mechanised equipment and training to sanitation workers, converting them into ‘sanitation entrepreneurs’ eligible for government tenders. However, Shankar alleges that the scheme has been subverted for political gains. He told media that Gengreen Logistics was allegedly founded by Ravi Kumar Nara, president of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI), in collaboration with Veeramani Radhakrishnan. He further claimed that real beneficiaries are not genuine sanitation workers but members of the Congress party’s SC/ST wing. “The Tamil Nadu government has adequate public sector infrastructure to manage such schemes. Instead, it chose to route implementation through a private company with political links,” Shankar alleged.
The High Court’s demand for official documentation signals rising judicial scrutiny over the transparency of public welfare schemes. With political connections under the scanner, the state government now faces growing pressure to defend the integrity of its social development initiatives.
