A 24-year-old AIADMK Youth Wing functionary, R Vineeth, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly embezzling over Rs8 crore from the provident fund of municipal employees in Villupuram. During the investigation, authorities seized several luxury cars, a goods vehicle, and key financial documents related to the embezzled funds.
The investigation began following complaints about irregularities in the management of the provident fund (PF) for municipal staff and municipal school employees. A team led by Lakshmi, the Regional Director of Vellore Municipal Administration, conducted a detailed audit over the past two days at the Villupuram municipal office. Several crucial documents were seized for further examination.
Preliminary findings revealed that Vineeth, who served as the AIADMK District Youth Wing Deputy Secretary, had misappropriated Rs8.13 crore from the PF fund since 2021. Based on this, Villupuram Municipal Commissioner Veeramuthukumar filed a complaint with the district crime branch police on Tuesday.
During questioning, Vineeth confessed to the crime, revealing how he exploited his position as a temporary data entry worker at the municipal office. Vineeth is the foster son of Kumari, a sanitation worker at the municipality, and used her connections to gain access to critical financial records. His technical skills earned him the trust of senior officials, leading to his assignment of significant responsibilities, including preparing treasury accounts, processing loan disbursements, and managing welfare fund payouts for municipal employees.
Leveraging this trust, Vineeth manipulated the records, transferring funds from the municipal treasury into personal and unrelated bank accounts, some linked to his IAS academy and NEET coaching center. The embezzled funds were used to purchase luxury assets, including three luxury cars and property, which were seized by the police.
Vineeth has since been remanded in judicial custody following his appearance at the Villupuram District Court. The AIADMK has removed Vineeth from all party positions, including his membership in the Youth Wing.