On day 4, I-T officials continue search in Kodanad, Curzon estates

Even as raids were wrapped up in most other places, the I-T staff continued their search in the estate, besides quizzing the management on the financial transactions. Separate teams were involved in search operations and in the inquiry process at these estates. 

A family member of the Curzon Green Estate management told journalists on anonymity that I-T raids were done with political motives targeting TTV Dinakaran and VK Sasikala.

“We are kept in isolation. Even our family members are denied permission to meet us due to the ongoing raids. However, we are lending maximum co-operation to the I-T department,” he said. 

Police, who are in the know of things, said that the I-T department has informed them of concluding the raids by Monday. However, the cops remained tightlipped on the outcome of the searches as to any seizure was made.

Meanwhile, the search at the house and commercial establishments of sand merchant Arumughasamy and Sajeevan, who supplied wooden furnitures to Kodanad bungalow concluded in Coimbatore on Saturday. I-T staff said they have seized some incriminating documents pertaining to illegal financial transactions from the raided premises in Coimbatore.

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker and AIADMK MP M Thambidurai has asserted that the I-T Department comes under the purview of the Centre and that the state has nothing to do with it, while replying to a query on the ongoing marathon raids against the AIADMK’s ousted leaders VK Sasikala , her nephew TTV Dinakaran, relatives, friends and aides. “It is the I-T officials’ prerogative to carry out raids. They will be the best people to dispel their agenda,” Thambidurai said. He ducked other questions relating to the raids, stating that he was not for replying to speculations. When asked about the BJP trying to destroy the AIADMK, Thambidurai retorted that the movement has a legacy. 

“Thanthai Periyar and former CM Anna had taught us the ideals, and this Dravidian party had taken roots in their ideology. None can destroy the party with such a legacy. We are taking forward centenary celebrations of former CM MG Ramachandran. Dravidian and Tamil sentiments run high among those in this Tamil soil. Therefore, it is impossible for anyone to destroy this party,” Thambidurai said. He termed the reduction of GST rates a victory for the AIADMK as it should be seen as Centre conceding to the demands made by the late CM J Jayalalithaa.

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan on Sunday said there was no conspiracy in the raids conducted on the premises linked to jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala and her relatives and held that the Income Tax department’s actions were based on information. The Minister of State rejected deposed AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran’s charge of conspiracy. Dinakaran had alleged that the multi-city searches at 187 places conducted since November 9 as a “conspiracy” aimed at ousting him and his jailed aunt from politics. 

“The Income Tax raids are based on information and documents collected by the department...There is no conspiracy in this,” Radhakrishnan told reporters here. The I-T raids, he said, went beyond state, language and caste factors. “There was no ulterior motive in the searches and none should see them with parochial presumptions,” he said. Radhakrishnan also rejected the charge by some opposition leaders that the I-T department was being used to target them, saying raids had also been carried out against companies owned by BJP leaders in other states. “The Income tax department is an independent authority. There is no truth in the allegation that the Income Tax department is biased,” he said.