The alleged irregularities were found in the purchase of 50 imported portable fire pumps; 60 Wadia-make high capacity portable fire pumps; fabrication of an Emergency Rescue Tender (ERT); and 200 suction hose couplings when the two officers were serving as director of Tamil Nadu Fire Service (TNFS). While Hariharane was director of TNFS from Nov 18, 1987 to July 21, 1990, Veeraraghavan served in the TNFS from July 21, 1990 to Jan 11, 1993.

Both the officers were arrested last year and later released on conditional bail. At the time of arrest, Hariharane was serving in the Social Justice and Forest Cell CID wing of the police, and Veeraraghavan was the Member of the TN Uniformed Services Recruitment Board.

Highlyplaced official sources said the Governor's permission is necessary to book any all-India services officer under the sections of the Indian Penal Code. For charging them under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the permission of the President of India is needed. Since the Governor had given her nod, the state government issued a GO on June 30, directing the CB CID to go ahead with the prosecution of the two officers, under the Indian Penal Code sections including 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 409 (Criminal Breach of Trust), in the Special Court.

As a follow-up, the CID had approached the Union Home Ministry a few days ago to obtain sanction to prosecute the officers under section 13(2) read with sections 13 (1) (C) and 13 (1) (D) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.