ED raids Tamil Nadu Minister I Periyasamy, family in money laundering case

CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday searched multiple premises linked to state minister and DMK leader I Periyasamy and his MLA son as part of an investigation into money laundering, official sources said.

The raids were undertaken in Chennai and Dindigul under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The premises of IP Sentilkumar, the son of the 72-year-old minister for Rural Development, Panchayats and Panchayat Unions, were also searched. Periyasamy represents the Athoor assembly constituency in Dindigul district.

The money laundering investigation stems from an April order of the Madras High Court, which directed a special court in Dindigul to frame charges against Periyasamy and his family members in connection with a Rs 2.1 crore disproportionate assets case.

The order came in response to some criminal revision petitions filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), challenging a special court order discharging Periyasamy and his family members from the case.

The HC also directed the special court to conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis and complete it within six months.

The prosecution's case was that Periyasamy had amassed wealth to the tune of Rs 2.1 crore in his name and in the names of his wife, P Suseela and sons Sentilkumar and P Prabhu, disproportionate to his known sources of income, when he was a minister between 2006 and 2010.

Police issue CSR against ‘unknown’

The Triplicane Police have issued a ‘Community Service Register’ against ‘unknown persons’ for allegedly trespassing on the apartment of MLA IP Senthilkumar at the MLA's hostel in Chennai on Saturday. Police said the CSR was issued based on a complaint lodged after ED officials entered the hostel as part of their statewide searches at places linked to minister Periyasamy and his family members.