Rajmohan claims previous government misused AI in book purchases, prompting an inquiry into library procurement processes.
Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister, Rajmohan, has made serious allegations against the former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government regarding the procurement of books for the Periyar Arivulagam library located in Coimbatore. During a press conference held in Chennai, he asserted that the previous administration engaged in corrupt practices by acquiring substandard books from questionable publishers using artificial intelligence.
Rajmohan remarked, тАЬFor the first time in this country, the DMK has engaged in corruption using artificial intelligence.тАЭ He showcased a purchase order that was issued for books from Agal Vilakku Publishers, which he claimed was dated February 14, 2026, while the DMK was still in power. He mentioned that payments to the publishers were processed in March 2026.
The minister argued that the previous government procured books that were so poor in quality that they should have been discarded. These books were allegedly delivered to the library just before the Assembly elections scheduled for May 2026. Rajmohan highlighted that the boxes containing the books were not opened until after the elections, just prior to the inauguration of the library, citing a seal on them dated June 2026 as evidence.
He further claimed that similar questionable books had been purchased for four additional libraries that are yet to be opened: Kamarajar Arivulagam in Tiruchy, Bharathidasan Arivulagam in Salem, Anjalai Ammal Arivulagam in Cuddalore, and Quide-e-Millath Arivulagam in Tirunelveli, with Rs 50 crore allocated for each.
Rajmohan described the procurement process, explaining that a committee convened to select books for the Periyar Arivulagam library met in November and December 2025. He stated that the recommendation committee comprised 137 members, with 112 in attendance, and alleged that the approval for their recommendations was coerced by DMK officials.
However, R. Vijaya Sankar, a former editor at Frontline and a member of the 137-member committee, provided a different perspective on the selection process. In a post on social media platform X, he stated that he was assigned categories related to journalism and mass communication. He received a Google Sheet containing over 12,000 titles and was required to recommend at least 1,000 books. Sankar confirmed that he only recommended 43 books by February 14, 2026, completing his work by early March 2026.
He clarified that his recommendations were subjected to multiple stages of scrutiny, involving both a 13-member book selection committee and further reviews by two additional committees before obtaining procurement approvals. He expressed uncertainty about subsequent actions taken on his recommendations after the change in government, noting that it would be on the government to clarify the timeline of events.
The ministerтАЩs accusations arise amid ongoing controversy concerning the contents of books available at the newly inaugurated Periyar Arivulagam library and science centre. Writer Perumal Murugan recently scrutinised various titles, alleging that numerous books displayed fabricated historical information and seemed to be produced using artificial intelligence.
In an article published on the Tamil portal Sindhai, Murugan highlighted that approximately 1,800 books published by Agal Vilakku Pathipagam were located in the library and raised concerns regarding several titles that misrepresented established literary and historical information. He cited examples such as faulty descriptions of Naladiyar, a renowned collection of verses, and the dubious authenticity of historical accounts attributed to Tamil NaduтАЩs literary figures.
Murugan, a member of the recommendation committee for modern literature and literary criticism, stated he reviewed titles online but had no updates regarding the books that were actually purchased.
The allegations have prompted the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) government to initiate an inquiry into the book procurement. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has accused the DMK of misusing public funds under the guise of supporting Periyar and Tamil. The DMK, in response, has questioned whether the purchases were indeed made or authorised after the government transition, pointing out conflicting date stamps on various books.
The DMK has also raised questions about who approved the transactions and highlighted potential irregularities, emphasising that these concerns should have been expressed earlier, given Murugan’s involvement in the recommendation committee. Kannan Sundaram, a publisher, has underscored the need for a detailed investigation into the allegations. He noted the differences between the current procurement process and the earlier Tamil Nadu Transparent Book Procurement Policy, which mandated fixed rates for Tamil books.
Sundaram further called for clarity on the timing and authority behind the purchases, urging the government to verify when the procurement took place and who was responsible for the selection of books.
The events surrounding the library book procurement highlight significant tension between the current and former state administrations, as public scrutiny intensifies over issues of transparency and accountability in public spending.
