The Income Tax department on Friday launched raids at more than 30 locations in Tamil Nadu including the premises of Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar and another political party leader.

Other properties of the minister, including a blue metal crushing unit and a college in Pudukottai district, were also searched.

The I-T department also conducted raids at the premises of S. Geethalakshmi, Vice-Chancellor of The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

A senior IT official who confirmed the news said they received information that money was distributed ahead of the R.K. Nagar byelection.

Sources said the raids were being carried out simultaneously at the three places from 7 a.m.

(This news report was first published in The Hindu online edition)