Oman Daily Observer

IT raids on TN minister, others yield Rs 4.5 crore

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CHENNAI: Income Tax Department officials on Friday recovered about Rs 4.5 crore from the residences of two persons close to Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabask­ar, said a senior official.

The IT officials also searched the residences and business premises of Vijayabask­ar, his relatives and associates.

“Rs 3.5 crore cash was recovered from Nainar Mohammed, one of the confidants of Vijayabask­ar, and nearly Rs 1 crore was recovered from a person who was managing the funds of Vijayabask­ar,” the IT official said, preferring anonymity.

According to him, some incriminat­ing documents were seized from the residence of Vijayabask­ar.

Raids were also conducted at actor-turned-politician Sammuthuva Makkal Katchi leader Sarathkuma­r’s house, the official said.

The premises of some AIADMK functionar­ies and government officials were searched as well.

Initially, the raids were launched at around 35 places. The operation was later extended to nearly 50 addresses, including some located outside Chennai in the state, the official added.

He said: “Trigger for raids at Vijayabask­ar’s residence is the money distribute­d to voters in the R K Nagar assembly constituen­cy where the by-poll is slated for April 12.”

Vijayabask­ar is a loyalist of AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala, now in jail for corruption.

Sasikala’s relative T T V Dhinakaran is contesting from the R K Nagar constituen­cy and complaints of large-scale bribing of voters has been lodged with the Election Commission by the opposition parties.

The officer said Minister Vijayabask­ar had been on IT radar for the past one year in connection with his quarry business.

Soon after the news about the raids broke, media persons assembled outside Vijayabask­ar’s residence.

AIADMK (Sasikala faction) leaders and cadres, too, gathered there and demanded entry into his residence.

Speaking to the media, Vijayabask­ar said the IT officials were not able to find not even Rs 10,000 from his house and his children were not allowed to attend school.

The raid at Sarathkuma­r’s residence comes a day after he announced his support to Dhinakaran.

PMK founder S Ramadoss in a statement demanded sacking of Vijayabask­ar and other officials whose residences were searched by the IT officials.

DMK’s working President and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly M K Stalin said IT raids on AIADMK leaders was not something new. — IANS

 ??  ?? C Vijayabask­ar
C Vijayabask­ar

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