With just days left for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, officers from the Income Tax department conducted searches at the house and office of Sabareesan, DMK Chief MK Stalin’s son-in-law on Friday, 2 April.
Apart from his residence at Neelankarai on East Coast Road in Chennai, I-T searches are also underway on the office premises in Teynampet and two more places. Over the years, Sabareesan has become a close advisor of Stalin and is known to be a key strategist for the DMK, but maintains a low profile.
“I am telling Modi, this is DMK. Don’t forget it. I am Karunanidhi’s son. I won’t get scared about such things. This is a Stalin who has seen MISA and Emergency. It doesn’t matter how many raids you conduct. We won’t get scared. There are only three-four days for the election. They think somehow they can intimidate and threaten us to keep us at home. This won’t happen with the DMK,” Stalin said.
According to reports, over 25 Income Tax officers are conducting searches at Sabareesan and his wife Senthamarai’s properties. The searches at Sabareesan’s properties began on Friday morning.
Similar Searches at DMK Leader E Velu’s Properties
These searches come days after sleuths from the Income Tax department conducted similar searches at DMK leader EV Velu’s properties in Tiruvannamalai.
The officers combed Velu’s house, guest house and premises of the colleges he owns. Velu is seeking re-election from the Tiruvannamalai Assembly constituency.
The searches at his house and business premises happened when Stalin was campaigning for him in Tiruvannamalai. Over 110 staffers were involved in the search at Velu’s house and on the business premises.
Tamil Nadu goes to polls on 6 April. The battle is largely between the DMK-led alliance and the ruling AIADMK alliance, which comprises the BJP.
(This story was first published in The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)
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