Madras High Court Seeks Govt Records on PIL Alleging Scam in Manual Scavenging Eradication Schemes

The Madras High Court on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit original files related to two sanitation schemes, after hearing a PIL filed by YouTuber and whistleblower 'Savukku' Shankar.

The petition seeks a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in how funds were disbursed under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) and the Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme (AABCS) schemes.

A bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan said it would examine the records itself before deciding whether to order an investigation. The matter is posted for final hearing on May 16.

Shankar, in his petition, alleged that contracts under the schemes—meant for the welfare of sanitation workers—were awarded to ineligible/fraudulent persons selected not by government agencies but by a private body, the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI).

He further claimed that those beneficiaries later entered into agreements with a private firm, Gen Green Logistics Pvt. Ltd.

The petitioner also pointed out that Ravi Kumar Narra is listed as a Director in both DICCI and Gen Green Logistics, raising concerns over a possible conflict of interest. The petition argues that this arrangement led to misuse of government funds and warrants a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Taking note of the allegations, the court on its own added three more parties to the case: the Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, the Secretary of the MSME Department, and the Managing Director of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB).

All three have been asked to produce relevant files before the court on May 16. The judges said the writ petition would be disposed of that day after going through the documents.

The court also allowed the newly impleaded parties to file their responses, if any, before the next hearing.

Case Title: A. Shankar Alias Savukku Shankar vs. The Director Central Bureau of Investigation and Others

Download order here