The Income Tax authorities on Friday (26 May 2023) launched coordinated searches at places linked to Tamil Nadu Liquor Minister V Senthilbalaji in cities including Karur and Coimbatore.
Supporters of V Senthilbalaji, state minister for electricity, excise and prohibition, allegedly created a ruckus and even vandalised a car belonging to the Income Tax (I-T) department and manhandled officials of the department who on Friday launched coordinated searches in places across Tamil Nadu linked to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister.
Senthik Balaji’s supporters gathered in Karur when officials came to search the house of his brother V Ashok and raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led union government.
A tense situation unfolded in Karur on Friday when supporters of TASMAC contractors made an effort to forcefully impede a team of 50 Income Tax officials from conducting raids on the residences and establishments of these contractors.The supporters of the Tasmac contractors surrounded and obstructed the I-T officials, claiming that they had been attacked.
However, after a five-hour delay and with heavy police protection, the raid resumed.Reports indicate that the tax officials arrived in Karur early in the morning to search around 10 locations. Over 150 officials from Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Madurai, and Dindigul arrived in more than 50 vehicles.
When the team reached Ramakrishnapuram to search a Tasmac contractor’s house, a large group of supporters prevented the officials from entering and voiced their protest. They demanded that a female I-T official present her identity card, which sparked a heated argument.I-T officials Gayathri, Sunil Kumar, Pankaj Kumar and Kalla Srinivasa Rao, who were reportedly assaulted by the group, were admitted to the Karur Government Medical College Hospital.
Upon receiving information, the local police rushed to the spot, rescued the woman official, and took her to the police station. In the meantime, the woman official filed a complaint with the police, alleging that she had been attacked by the contractors’ supporters.With the situation spiraling out of control, the search operation was suspended after 10 AM. Following this, the tax officials met with Superintendent of Police A Sundaravadanam and lodged a complaint against the supporters.
The officials claimed that inadequate police protection had contributed to the situation. The SP informed them that there had been no prior notification, preventing the provision of security. Subsequently, the SP ordered police protection for the officials. Each vehicle was assigned a sub-inspector and a police constable, and the search resumed after 5:30 PM. The latest information suggests that the search operation was still ongoing.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai took to Twitter and shared the visuals of the incident. He also called out the unprofessional act of DMK goons as they attacked the IT Officials. The state BJP chief also demanded strict action against the DMK and the police for failing to provide appropriate security to the officials.
“I urge on behalf of Tamil Nadu BJP that action should be taken against the DMK who has threatened the lives of the Income Tax Department and against the District Superintendent of Police who has failed to provide adequate protection to the Income Tax Department,” he further wrote.
IT officials manhandled, vehicles vandalised by DMK goons in support of Cash for Job Scam Minister Senthil Balaji & his brother.
TN CM Thiru @mkstalin should instruct his partymen to behave responsibly & remind them that we don't live in the 60s. pic.twitter.com/eQHu4zfVaL
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) May 26, 2023
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