Official Denial Amid Social Media Controversy

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Industries Minister S Keerthana has categorically denied allegations of corruption and financial impropriety circulating on social media platforms, including claims that she accepted a ₹3 crore commission tied to a bridge construction project.

In a comprehensive statement issued by her office, the minister dismissed the allegations as baseless fabrications designed to malign her public reputation. Keerthana stated that the contractor allegedly linked to the commission dispute has already refuted the claims.

Addressing Personal Wealth and Public Scrutiny

The controversy also touched upon personal assets and public appearances. Social media users recently scrutinized jewellery worn by the minister during a visit to the Tirumala temple in Tirupati, comparing the items with gold holdings declared in her official election affidavit, which records 24 grams of gold valued at ₹3.27 lakh.

Addressing the claims, Keerthana clarified that the item in question was merely a fashion necklace rather than a gold coin chain, as portrayed online. She also challenged critics alleging she owned a multi-crore residential property to produce verifiable evidence.

"The numbers keep changing, the stories keep shifting, but substantiated evidence remains absent," Keerthana said, adding that she has never demanded or accepted a bribe or engaged in financial misconduct.

Commitment to Transparency and Legal Recourse

While welcoming constructive criticism and public oversight as essential components of a democratic society, the minister drew a sharp line between performance reviews and targeted personal defamation.

Warning of strict legal consequences, Keerthana stated that continued malicious campaigns would face appropriate judicial action. The development unfolds against the backdrop of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s strict anti-corruption governance agenda.