Income Tax officials conducted searches in nearly 30 premises, including the official residence, of Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar and his relatives across the State.

The search was based on a tip-off that money was allegedly distributed by the minister and his supporters to voters of RK Nagar where the by-poll will be held on April 12.

The search started simultaneously at all the places in the morning.

IT officials also searched the residence of actor-turned-politician and leader of All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi R Sarathkumar, former AIADMK legislator Chitlapakkam Rajendran and vice-chancellor of Dr MGR Medical University S Geethalakshmi.

There were chaos and commotion at Vijayabhaskar’s residence in Greenways Road when media persons barged in to the house while the search was on.