Day 5 : IT raids continue at premises of Sasikala, family members

The raids, which began in about 187 places on Thursday following suspected tax evasion and illegal routing of funds through shell companies post demonetisation, has ended in a majority of places.

The massive raids were aimed at unearthing benami assets, besides tax evasion, IT department sources said.  

However, the searches continued for the fifth day in more than five locations places like Jaya TV, residence and business premises of its Managing Director Vivek Jayaraman (son of J Ilavarasi also jailed along with Sasikala in DA case), his sister Krishna Priya's house, (where Sasikala stayed during her parole period), the Trust run by her and at Midas distilleries on the outskirts of Chennai.

Raids were also on at the college owned by Sasikala's brother Dhivakaran in Mannargudi at the Green Tea Estate at Kodanadu estate, frequented by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. 

IT department sources said the raids, which lasted more than 100 hours, concluded at Jaya TV by 1500 hrs today. 

IT department sources said during the raids, property documents purchased in the name of shell companies to the tune of several crores of rupees, besides benami properties purchased in the names of household staff like car drivers, servants, assistants and friends and business associates were seized.

Meanwhile, intensifying its action, IT department had issued summons after the raids to those close to the main suspects.

AIADMK Karnataka Unit Secretary V Pugazhendhi, a close aide of ousted AIADMK leader and Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran, her physician Dr Senthil and Poongundran, an assistant in the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa, appeared before the IT officials in the city today. 

Even as the searches continued at the residence and offices of Vivek, his business venture Jazz cinemas at Phoenix Mall, opened today after remaining closed for four days.

The sources said five BMWs, five Skodas, five Lauras and a diamond necklace worth Rs 30 lakh were seized during the raids. 

The IT officails waited for the individuals and companies associated with Sasikala to file their tax returns for the year,  the sources said, adding, based on the filing and the data collected by the IT department, the searches were carried out to detect tax evasion.