Five officials connected with book procurement for Tamil Nadu’s public libraries have been suspended following complaints of irregularities, while an investigation into allegedly counterfeit books is being expanded across the state, Dinamalar reported on November 15.
The suspension order was issued by the Director of Public Libraries, according to the report. The officials were members of a coordination committee formed to oversee and coordinate the purchase of books for public libraries. The action follows allegations that irregularities took place in the procurement process during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government period.
Those suspended are Kamatchi of the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai; Dinesh Kumar of the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai; Santhanakrishnan, who was responsible for the Periyar Library in Coimbatore; Karthikeyan of the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai; and Juliet, the Chief Accounts Officer of the Directorate of Public Libraries.
The reported action places responsibility across library administration and financial oversight. The committee’s role in coordinating procurement means the investigation is examining not only the books supplied to libraries but also the administrative process through which purchases were handled. The report did not provide details of the specific procurement contracts, the value of the purchases, or the precise allegations against each official.
The case gained wider attention after allegedly fake books were identified at the Periyar Library in Coimbatore. Following that discovery, officials began intensifying inspections of books held in libraries across Tamil Nadu. The reported review is intended to establish whether the issue was confined to one library or extended to collections procured for institutions elsewhere in the state.
The report identified books associated with Aagalvilakku and Phoenix Publishers as among the allegedly counterfeit volumes being removed. It did not state how many books were affected, how the books were identified, or whether the publishers had been formally named as accused parties. Those details are expected to form part of the ongoing inquiry.
Public libraries depend on procurement systems to build and maintain collections for students, researchers and local communities. In this case, the reported investigation has raised questions about the verification of books supplied through public purchasing, the role of coordinating committees and the checks applied before books enter library catalogues. The suspension order represents administrative action while the inquiry proceeds; it does not by itself establish individual culpability.
The Directorate of Public Libraries is continuing the investigation into the procurement-related allegations and the distribution of allegedly counterfeit books. Further action against the officials and decisions on the state-wide inspection are expected after the inquiry progresses.
