Premises of Reddy’s aides raided in Dindigul, Pudukai

A group of 10 officials from CBI and I-T departments arrived in Pudukkottai and conducted simultaneous raids at four spots at Nizam Colony and KLKS Nagar where the offices of Ramachandran were located. The officials have reportedly secured a few documents but could not find cash. 

Meanwhile, I-T sleuths continued their raids at the office of Tharani Groups, owned by Rathinam, on GTN Road in Dindigul. Officials are said to have seized a number of records as evidence of Rathinam’s business partnership with Sekar Reddy. 

The fresh search comes after the CBI arrested Rathinam and Ramachandran based on Sekar Reddy’s statement and conducted an inquiry with them about the modes operandi of different mining yards managed by them. Sources from Dindigul said that both Rathinam and Ramachandran were partners with Sekar Reddy in SRS Mining and were involved in illegal business after establishing connection with politicians. 

Since Ramachandran is a well known personality, who is constructing an Agriculture and Research Institute at Muthupattinam and also involved in various other businesses in and around Pudukkottai including brick kilns, tyres, hotel business and power generation firms, the public started gathering near his office premises to get a glimpse of the ongoing raid. 

The raids at the house and residence of Sekar Reddy and his subsequent arrest had created ripples in the State as the sand mining baron was a close associate of many politicians and officials.