Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan has alleged irregularities in the procurement of books for public libraries, including claims that artificial intelligence was used to create or reproduce books attributed to fictitious authors. He said the state would seek recovery of money released for such books and had complained to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.
The allegations relate first to the E.V.R. Library, where Rajmohan said books supplied by Akal Vilakku Publications had been purchased under an order issued on February 14. According to his account, the books were required to be delivered within seven days and arrived at the library in more than 40 boxes. He said the books were later stacked in preparation for the library’s opening after the election.
Rajmohan alleged that a seal was placed on the books on June 22 and accused the DMK of using photographs of the sealed books to make allegations against the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. These claims could not be independently established from the material supplied for this report. The minister said the School Education Department possessed original documents showing that the books had been received during the DMK government’s tenure.
He further alleged that books on artificial intelligence had also been ordered for the Kamarajar Library in Tiruchirappalli, the Bharathidasan Library in Salem, the Anjalai Ammal Library in Cuddalore and the Quaid-e-Millat Library in Tirunelveli. Rajmohan claimed that Rs 50 crore had been allocated for each library and that a separate Rs 5 crore allocation had been made for digital book procurement. The supplied report does not include budget documents, purchase orders or details showing whether these amounts were sanctioned, released or spent.
The minister said a 137-member selection committee met in November and December last year to review books, followed by another meeting in January attended by 112 members. He alleged that the higher-level committee approved the purchases under pressure from political leaders. The report did not provide the minutes of these meetings, the committee’s terms of reference or the names and responses of its members.
Rajmohan also questioned books attributed to authors including Thamarai Murali, Thamarai Ravi, Thamarai Panneer, Monika Ravi, Lakshmi Mohan, Kamalammal Karunanidhi and Pavithra Karunanidhi, calling them fictitious authors. He alleged that books carrying the name of Chief Minister Vijay had also been created using artificial intelligence and purchased on the committee’s recommendation. These allegations remain unverified in the supplied material, which contains no independent assessment of the books or authors.
The minister said libraries across Tamil Nadu had been affected by what he described as the use of AI to produce fraudulent digital and printed content. He said officials had been instructed to isolate Akal Vilakku books in all libraries and that a special committee would be formed to identify the alleged digital irregularities. He also said the government would pursue legal and police action and would take action against officials if their involvement was established.
The allegations raise a governance question beyond the dispute between political parties: how public library procurement committees authenticate publishers, authors, digital content and invoices before public money is released. However, the supplied report does not establish whether any investigation has begun, whether the vigilance complaint has been formally registered, or whether the named publishers, committee members and DMK representatives have responded.
Rajmohan said the state would seek an unconditional apology from the DMK to students and readers and would proceed with legal measures. The next verifiable developments are the production of the alleged procurement documents, the status of the vigilance complaint, the constitution of the proposed special committee and any responses from the parties and institutions named in the allegations.
