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In a move that sent shockwaves through Tamil Nadu’s bureaucratic circles, the Income Tax Department conducted raids at the house of the state’s top bureaucrat, Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao, in Chennai as well as at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat.
The I-T department said Rs 30 lakh in new banknotes and 5 kg of gold bars were seized during searches at his Anna Nagar home and 13 other premises belonging to him. Two of Rao’s personal secretaries were taken away by the I-T officials after the 5-hour raid.
I-T Raids Chief Secretary’s Residence
According to media reports, the initial raids took place at the Anna Nagar home of the senior bureaucrat. The raids started at 5:30 am on Wednesday morning at Rao’s Anna Nagar residence, where he has been reportedly staying for at least seven years.
According to reports, at least 10 I-T officials came to the house at 5:15 am in four cars and started conducting the raids. There are no reports of any major seizures just yet, and there are reports of other raids on other bureaucrats, too.
Stalin Hits Out at AIADMK Government
DMK Treasurer MK Stalin hit out at the Tamil Nadu government after the raid.
In a statement, Stalin said, “The raid at the Chief Secretary’s house is without precedence. This has never happened in the history of Tamil Nadu before.”
Calling for strict action against the ruling AIADMK and its ministers involved in corruption, Stalin said they should not be allowed to go scot free.
Previous Raids
On 8 December, I-T officials seized Rs 90 crore in cash and 100 kg of gold bars in multiple raids in Chennai.
Of the Rs 90 crore that was seized by the I-T sleuths, Rs 80 crore was in old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, while Rs 10 crore was in the new Rs 2,000 notes.
One Srinivasa Reddy, his associate Sekhar Reddy, and their agent Prem were being interrogated by I-T officials in connection with the seizure.
The I-T department later declared it had seized a whopping 177 kg of gold and Rs 130 crore in cash, of which Rs 34 crore was in new notes.
Sekhar Reddy is believed to have been close to senior bureaucrats in Tamil Nadu and state Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. The ongoing I-T raids at Rao’s residence could be linked to this case.
Rao Also Vigilance Commissioner
Ironically, Rao holds the additional charge of Vigilance Commissioner and the Commissioner for Administrative Reforms. Rao was appointed to the post over several senior IAS officials.
Informed sources said the searches at Rao's residence and office were linked to the earlier I-T raids on the residence of businessmen J Shekhar Reddy, Srinivasalu and Prem.
Calls for his dismissal have been triggered following the raid.
The IAS cadre comes under the central government, which was silent when Rao became the Chief Secretary.
"The raid on Rao's residence is a great, great shame for the IAS cadre," said Devasahayam, a former IAS officer.
(With inputs from The News Minute, IANS, PTI, ANI)
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