New Delhi: Officials from the Income Tax Department on Thursday conducted searches in premises linked to a noted DMK leader in Tamil Nadu, E.V. Velu.
The searches began in the morning and covered multiple premises connected to Velu, based in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district. Officials reportedly said that the raids were in relation to “credible inputs of cash movement”during the election campaign.
While I-T department officials searched locations associated with Velu, NDTV reported, DMK chief M.K. Stalin was campaigning for him in Tiruvannamalai, Velu’s constituency. Velu is the sitting MLA from Tiruvannamalai and is seeking re-election in the April 6 assembly polls. Velu is a five-time MLA and also the state’s former food minister.
Searches were also carried out at Velu’s college, where Stalin had reportedly stayed last night.
“Conducting searches in the room where DMK chief M.K. Stalin stayed shows their intention. Nothing has been seized. This won’t stop our victory,” DMK general secretary Duraimurugan said, according to NDTV, hinting that the Bharatiya Janata Party and Central government were using the raids for political mileage.
Over the past few weeks, as the assembly elections draw closer, several premises associated with others, including political functionaries, have been searched in the state by income tax investigation officers.