A section of the people in the AIADMK that was involved in “property grabbing spree” during the 1991-96 rule of the party in the State are feeling the heat of Income Tax searches held on the premises of V.K. Sasikala’s relatives, said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader H. Raja.
Speaking to reporters in Madurai on Sunday, he said that the people of Tamil Nadu have not forgotten the property grabbing spree during the AIADMK government. “Even the Paiyanoor bungalow of music director Gangai Amaran was grabbed,” he alleged.
Stating that neither the BJP nor the Centre had any role in the I-T searches, he said it was only decided by the officials of the Income Tax Department based on definite information.
Even the raid at Veda Nilayam, the residence of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, was only consequent to the six-day raids conducted at various places.
Sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is blaming the Centre to seek public sympathy, he said.
“Even the Chief Minister [Edappadi K. Palaniswami] has said that only because of the wrong-doings of some elements, the house of former Chief Minister at Poes Garden has been searched, bringing shame to the party,” Mr. Raja said.
However, on Chief Minister’s comment that the I-T officials had not searched Jayalalithaa’s personal room, Mr. Raja said that only I-T officials have to reveal the fact on this issue.
Reacting to DMK working president M.K. Stalin’s remarks that the I-T raids conducted in the recent-past had not reached their logical conclusions, Mr. Raja said that it took 12 long years for the spectrum scam case to reach a logical conclusion.
“However, the cases of mining baron Shekar Reddy [from whom ₹33 crore in the denomination of ₹2,000 seized] would not take such a long time in the Modi-led government. It would be expedited,” he added.