W.P.No.2907 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 03.03.2025 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR W.P.No.2907 of 2025 Kabilan Gandhi ... Petitioner Versus 1.The Director, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, No.293, MKN Road, Alandur, Chennai – 600 016. 2.The Assistant Director, Department of Fisheries, 517, East Coast Road, Chinna Neelankarai, Neelankarai, Chennai – 600 041. ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying to issue a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent to take action against the 2nd respondent on the complaint dated 10.09.2024 given by the petitioner in accordance with law. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Udhaya Kumar For Respondents : Mr.S.Udaya Kumar Government Advocate (Crl. Side) Page No.1 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2907 of 2025 O R D E R The writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the first respondent to take action against the second respondent on the complaint given by the petitioner dated 10.09.2024 2.The complaint of the petitioner is that there are 42 fishermen villages starting from Kottivakkam to Aalambarai Village, Chengalpet District. There are more than 80,000 fishermen in these villages. About 1200 fishermen have motor boat (out boat engine). All the owners of the boat registered their boat with the Assistant Director, Neelankarai. All the fishermen are entitled to 100 litres of diesel per week at subsidized price. Each fisherman having motor boat is entitled to 350 litres of diesel per month. The diesel is supplied at Neelankarai Depot, which is situated near the office of the Assistant Director. As per the rules, each fisherman can collect 100 litres of diesel per week. The diesel is sold to the fisherman at the rate of Rs.78/- per litre. 30% of the fishermen, who do not go for fishing sells the diesel, which has been supplied to them, through an agent at higher rate for profit and thereby the benefit scheme has been violated and benefits are not given to the right person. The agent collects nearly 30,000 litres of diesel in one stroke from Page No.2 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2907 of 2025 the depot in connivance with the Assistant Director, Neelankarai and every month the diesel collected is 1,20,000 litres and the same is being diverted in this manner. It is also found that the agents, who collected the diesel, sold it for higher rate to the fisherman, Kasimedu, who own steel body boat since they are not entitled to diesel at subsidized price, thereby, the Government is losing more than Rs.10,00,000/- per month. The petitioner also enclosed photographs showing collection of diesel in drums and packed in mini lorry. The petitioner sent a representation dated 10.09.2024 to the respondent. The respondent sent a communication dated 15.11.2024 informing that the petitioner's complaint has been received and necessary action would be taken. Thereafter, no action has been taken. Hence the above petition. 3.The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) produced a copy of the communication dated 31.12.2024 and submitted that petitioner's complaint has been forwarded to the concerned authority and approval for conducting preliminary enquiry under Section 17(A)(1) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 was sought and reminder also sent. Now, the Director of Fisheries had sent a communication dated 24.02.2025 in R.C.No.308/L3/2025 granting approval for conducting preliminary enquiry Page No.3 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2907 of 2025 under Section 17(A)(1) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Hence, the case would be taken to its logical end. 4.Recording the submission of the learned Government Advocate, the Writ Petition is disposed of. 03.03.2025 Index : Yes/No Neutral citation: Yes/No Speaking order/Non-speaking order rsi To 1.The Director, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, No.293, MKN Road, Alandur, Chennai – 600 016. 2.The Assistant Director, Department of Fisheries, 517, East Coast Road, Chinna Neelankarai, Neelankarai, Chennai – 600 041. Page No.4 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2907 of 2025 M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J. rsi W.P.No.2907 of 2025 03.03.2025 Page No.5 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis