The Income Tax Department is currently conducting raids at the residences of DMK Liquor Minister Senthil Balaji, his brother Ashok, and 40 other locations of various Government contractors across Tamil Nadu associated with Senthil Balaji.
According to IT department sources, raids are currently taking place in Chennai, Karur, and other locations.
A few days ago, the Supreme Court refused to discharge Balaji in the cash-for-jobs scam and directed the ED to continue its probe into the charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. A bench of the Supreme Court, on May 16, refused to discharge Tamil Nadu electricity minister V. Senthil Balaji in the cash-for-jobs scam and set aside a 2022 Madras High Court order for a fresh investigation against the minister and others in the case. The high court order had the effect of nullifying a Supreme Court judgment of September 8, 2022, which had restored the criminal case against the minister. Now, the Supreme Court has granted the state police two months’ time to complete the investigation and submit the final report. The apex court further directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to continue its probe into the charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Following the ruling by the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai wrote to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, requesting that Senthil Balaji be removed from the cabinet as his continued presence would impede the investigation of the job racket case.
In this background, IT sleuths are searching the homes of DMK liquor minister Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok. Close relatives of the minister and some contractors were among those whose residences were searched by the Income Tax department.
In such a situation, a female IT official who attempted to enter Senthil Balaji’s brother’s house was confronted by DMK thugs who demanded that she open her bag. Despite her showing the bag, DMK thugs snatched the search warrant from her and prevented her from entering Ashok’s premises.
Senthil Balaji’s supporters tear the search warrant at Karur. Search was in Ashok Kumar’s house pic.twitter.com/USaLccDuzk
— Savukku Shankar (@Veera284) May 26, 2023
Outside the residence of DMK minister Senthil Balaji, DMK thugs vandalized the vehicle and broke the windshield of IT officials.
Senthil Balaji’s supporters attack IT officers’ vehicle at Karur. pic.twitter.com/Cl1b71Pcun
— Savukku Shankar (@Veera284) May 26, 2023
Despite the fact that videos of DMK thugs breaking into and vandalizing IT officials’ vehicles were going viral on social media, News7 Tamil attempted to downplay the incident by reporting that it was the general public who opposed the IT searches at the DMK minister’s residence.
Sun News Tamil, which reported the incident, avoided using Minister Senthil Balaji’s name intentionally and stated that the IT raids are taking place at the residences of government contractors.
ஏன் வாயில செந்தில் பாலாஜின்னு நுழையாதா ? @GunasekaranMu ? https://t.co/WteNszemwW
— Savukku Shankar (@Veera284) May 26, 2023