The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader KN Nehru challenging a Madras High Court order directing the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department [Thiru KN Nehru v. IS Inbadurai & Ors.].
A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu dismissed Nehru's plea against the High Court's February 20 order, which had directed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a case based on material shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The proceedings arose from a petition filed before the High Court by AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP IS Inbadurai, who alleged that the State police had failed to act on information forwarded by the ED concerning an alleged ₹634 crore cash-for-jobs scam involving recruitment to 2,538 government posts.
On February 20, the High Court directed the DVAC to register an FIR.
Nehru and the then DMK-led State government subsequently filed review petitions before the High Court. Nehru contended that the direction was issued without hearing him, despite the allegations concerning his tenure as Municipal Administration Minister, arguing that the order violated the principles of natural justice.
The matter took another turn following a change of government in Tamil Nadu. In June 2026, the State informed the High Court that the DVAC had registered an FIR and that the new government intended to withdraw the review petition filed by its predecessor.
Nehru opposed the State's move, contending that a change in the governing political party could not justify abandoning an earlier legal stand. Questions were also raised about whether a prospective accused is entitled to be heard before a court directs the registration of an FIR.
The High Court dismissed the review petition, clarifying that its February 20 order required the registration of a case concerning the alleged offences and did not specifically direct that an FIR be registered against Nehru.
Nehru then challenged the February 20 order before the Supreme Court, which dismissed his petition today.