US News

MY EX GAVE ‘TIP-OFFS’ ON MADOFF

A New York Stock Exchange securities analyst – who is being probed over allegations he tipped off his dad to the federal investigation of Bernie Madoff – said last summer that there “may be” problems at the accused swindler’s firm, his estranged wife claims.

Meela Delaire told The Post that when she asked about talk of trouble at Madoff’s firm months before he was busted, her husband, Bret, indicated the rumors could have merit.

Meela Delaire, 36, also said that whenever Bret Delaire, 34, talked to his father about Madoff, the two men would go out onto a terrace and close the door.

And she claimed that when she asked Bret’s mother, Carole Delaire, about possible problems with Madoff last summer, the mother-in-law liquidated Meela’s investments and sent her a personal check for the funds.

Bret’s father, Alvin “Sonny” Delaire Jr., is registered as an agent for Cohmad Securities, a brokerage firm partly owned by Madoff.

Meela Delaire made her allegations to The Post before testifying yesterday at their divorce trial in Jersey City.

Last week, The Post revealed that Bret Delaire has been placed on administrative leave from his NYSE post.

Carole Delaire declined comment about Meela.

Michael Blount, a lawyer for Carole and Alvin Delaire, said Meela’s allegations are “simply not true, completely false.”

jeane.macintosh@nypost.com