Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has begun an inquiry at Chennai’s Anna Centenary Library into alleged irregularities in the procurement of books for public libraries, according to a report by Dinamalar. The investigation follows a complaint filed on behalf of the state government over alleged corruption in book purchases.
The reported allegations relate initially to books procured for a library built in Coimbatore in the name of E.V. Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar. Writer Perumal Murugan alleged that a large-scale irregularity took place in the purchase of books during the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government. The allegations have not been established by the inquiry, which is now under way.
According to the report, information has also emerged alleging that books produced under fictitious names, including books prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence, were sold to libraries. The report further said that similar books may have been supplied across public libraries in Tamil Nadu. These claims are part of the material surrounding the complaint and will have to be tested through the vigilance investigation.
The state government’s complaint reportedly asked the anti-corruption police to examine book purchases across all libraries in Tamil Nadu. The reported scope is therefore wider than the procurement linked to the Coimbatore library. The inquiry at Anna Centenary Library marks the first reported investigative action in the case.
Public library procurement involves the use of government funds to select, purchase and distribute books for readers across the state. In this case, the allegations raise questions about how books were identified for purchase, whether the listed authors and titles were genuine, and whether the material supplied to libraries matched procurement records. The source report does not provide details of the total value of the purchases, the number of books involved, the officials or vendors under examination, or the period covered by the inquiry.
The allegations also place attention on the verification of books entering publicly funded library collections. Claims involving fictitious names and AI-assisted book production, if substantiated, could require investigators to examine author identities, publishing records, invoices, supply registers and library catalogues. No such findings have been reported at this stage.
The inquiry at the Anna Centenary Library is expected to establish the facts behind the complaint and determine whether procurement rules were violated. The source report does not state whether any arrests have been made, whether officials or suppliers have been questioned, or when the investigation will be completed.
