I-T sleuths raid 187 properties owned by Sasikala, relatives

CHENNAI: Even if they arrest me for 20 years, I will come out as 74 years old and still serve the state

TTV DINAKARAN, AIADMK leader and Sasikala’s nephew

Income Tax officials launched on Thursday countrywide searches at 187 residential and business properties of jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala and her family members, including nephew TTV Dinakaran over suspected tax evasion and money laundering, officials said.

The places searched included the ruling AIADMK’s mouthpiece Namadhu MGR, Jaya TV and Jazz Cinemas.

Shortly after income tax officials landed at his house in Adyar in upmarket south Chennai, Dinakaran said the raids were politically motivated. “Even if they arrest me for 20 years, I will come out as 74 years old and still serve the state,” Dinakaran told media persons after news of raids across the country on his friends and relatives broke.

The raids at nearly 187 locations began at around 6 am and were carried out in different cities including Bengaluru, Puducherry, Hyderabad and Delhi besides Chennai and other towns in Tamil Nadu.

Sources said the sleuths are also looking at suspected shell companies, dubious investments and fudging of accounts.

“I heard that raids are taking place at my farm house, it is a lonely place. What will they find there,” Dinakaran said. “But that entire place is CCTVed and we will get to know everything,” he added, suggesting that officials may plant things to frame him.

Dinakaran and Sasikala head a faction within the ruling AIADMK for control of the party, which currently is in the hands of chief minister E Palanisami and his deputy O Panneerselvam.

The places raided on Thursday are important in the scheme of things in AIADMK and its politics, besides the business establishments of the Mannargudi clan.

Jaya TV, which has been in the Sasikala camp’s control, blacks out news related to the ruling camp.

Panneerselvam has been demanding control of Jaya TV and Namadhu MGR, but that has been difficult since they are private properties.

A propaganda machine set up by AIADMK’s matriarch Jayalalithaa, Jaya TV is owned by Sasikala and is looked after by her relatives in her absence. Similarly, Namadhu MGR is also under the effective control of Sasikala and her clan.

Nanjil Sampath, senior MLA close to Dinakaran, said the raids were not surprising at all.