Tamil Nadu anti-corruption agency probes alleged library book procurement scam
Investigators have begun examining claims of fictitious authors and artificial intelligence-assisted books being sold to public libraries across the state.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has started an inquiry at Chennai’s Anna Centenary Library regarding alleged irregularities in book procurement, according to reports by Dinamalar and The Indian Express.
Tamil Nadu Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity A Rajmohan said the investigation follows a state government complaint. The probe involves allegations that books were purchased using fictitious names and artificial intelligence.
Minister Rajmohan stated that approximately 3,000 suspected books have been sealed in Coimbatore, while 523 books were identified at Chennai’s Connemara Library. He alleged a long-running network used various publishing proxies and shifting identities to supply collections.
The controversy stems from allegations by novelist Perumal Murugan concerning book purchases for the Periyar Arivulagam library in Coimbatore. Murugan, who served on a committee to recommend modern literature for new libraries, alleged serious irregularities in the process.
The Minister cited instances of borrowed authorship, noting that economist Jean Dreze denied writing a volume titled ‘Democracy and People’s Right in the Contemporary World’ which entered Madurai’s Kalaignar Centenary Library in 2023. Rajmohan also noted that 20 publishing-house names were allegedly used as proxies.
Investigators are currently taking steps to question the owner of Agalvilakku Publishing House. The inquiry aims to determine if procurement rules were violated across public libraries in Tamil Nadu.