The Tamil Nadu government has raised allegations of irregularities involving suspected AI-generated books purchased for the Periyar Arivulagam library in Coimbatore, prompting a vigilance complaint and plans for a wider review of public library procurement across the state.
School Education Minister A Rajmohan accused the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of approving purchases of books containing fabricated information, questionable author identities and factual inaccuracies.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Rajmohan alleged that thousands of books had been procured from publisher Agal Vilakku Pathippagam, with some publications purportedly produced using artificial intelligence.
The minister claimed that a purchase order was issued on February 14, 2026, requiring delivery within seven days, and alleged that payments were released in March.
He also questioned proposed procurement expenditure for other public libraries, citing allocations of ₹50 crore for books and an additional ₹5 crore for digital publications per library.
The allegations follow concerns raised by Tamil writer Perumal Murugan, a member of the previous government's 137-member book recommendation committee.
In an article published on November 6, Murugan questioned the purchase of nearly 1,800 books from Agal Vilakku and highlighted discrepancies in pricing, authorship and content.
Among the examples cited was a publication concerning Naaladiyar, a classical Tamil literary work, which reportedly described the text as an individual philosopher rather than a collection of verses attributed to Jain monks.
Murugan also flagged another publication that incorrectly identified a purported historical figure as Tamil Nadu's first Chief Minister.
Questions were additionally raised about books from Phoenix Publishers, including potentially unverifiable ISBN numbers and prices allegedly exceeding those of comparable publications.
Following the allegations, the state government lodged a complaint with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).
Rajmohan also announced plans to establish a special committee to examine procurement practices at other public libraries, including the Kamarajar, Anna and Kalaignar Centenary libraries.
The DMK rejected the accusations, describing them as politically motivated and calling for the publication of purchase orders, payment records and committee recommendations.
DMK leader I Paranthamen questioned the procurement timeline, claiming that some disputed books carried library stamps dated after the previous government's tenure.
He also maintained that the earlier administration had introduced an online procurement framework in 2024 involving expert committees.
The controversy has prompted demands for further scrutiny from leaders across political parties.
The allegations have also raised questions about the verification of AI-generated publishing material, particularly when books are purchased using public funds.
However, the use of AI in producing the disputed publications, the extent of any financial irregularities and responsibility for the procurement decisions remain subject to investigation.
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