The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated ₹13.7 crore in cash, along with documents and a computer hard disk, following a raid at Kingston Engineering College in Christianpet, Vellore, which is owned by DMK MP Kathir Anand. Kathir Anand, who is serving his second term as an MP, is the son of senior DMK leader and minister Duraimurugan.
On 3 January 2025, ED officials conducted a search at Kingston Engineering College, where Kathir Anand serves as the chairman. The operation, which involved over 15 officials, lasted for 44 hours.
During the search, ED officials reportedly reviewed CCTV footage and discovered unaccounted cash, documents relating to the college’s operations and financial transactions, as well as a computer hard disk. The cash seized was believed to be reserved for staff salaries, Pongal festival bonuses, and student fees. Two days into the operation, the ED seized an additional ₹2.74 crore and hard disks, while also sealing the server room of the college.
The raids are part of an ongoing investigation stemming from a 2019 Income Tax case against Kathir Anand, linked to alleged cash-for-votes activities during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Over ₹10 crore was confiscated from locations connected to Anand’s associates in Vellore, leading to the cancellation of the election in that constituency.
(With Inputs From DTNext)
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