Income Tax sleuths conducted searches in the office block of the Poes Garden residence of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday, 17 November.
Following inputs, a search operation was launched in the office block and a room used by jailed and deposed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala at ‘Veda Nilayam’, the Poes Garden residence.
have not searched the entire Poes Garden premises. Our team went at 9 pm and only Poongundran’s ( Jayalalithaa’s long time personal secretary) room, records room and other room used by Sasikala were searcIncome Tax official to PTI
The search comes days after multi-city searches in 187 locations linked to ten income tax assesse groups which include those linked to Sasikala, her kin and some associates.
Following inputs, a search operation was launched in the office block and a room used by Sasikala at ‘Veda Nilayam’, the Poes Garden residence.
Lawyers representing Sasikala reportedly requested the I-T department to allow them to be present at the the premises as witness, and assist where necessary. They were refused permission, and were asked to return by the police.
The Poes Garden residence was reportedly almost empty, with just two people there. A laptop was seized, among other things.
Around 10.30 pm, Sasikala's nephew Vivek Jayaraman reached the spot. Businesses owned by Vivek and his house had been raided for 5 days by the I-T department. Vivek's mother Ilaivarasi, who is currently in jail serving a sentence in the disproportionate assets case, used to live in Veda Nilayam with Jayalalithaa and Sasikala.
As news of the I-T raid spread, the Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran faction started questioning why Jayalalithaa's house was being targeted. Several protesting party members believed Jayalalithaa’s home and legacy were being desecrated.
‘OPS and EPS Would Commit Any Treachery’
AIADMK's sidelined leader TTV Dhinakaran on Saturday made his remarks following the raids at Jayalalitha's Poes Garden residence saying that the raids are an attempt to destroy the family. “Attempts being made to destroy our family using the Income Tax department, we are not scared and won’t run away,” Dhinakaran was quoted as saying by ANI.
The I-T department had raided the premises of Poes garden around 9 pm on Friday. After the searches, Dhinakaran blamed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami and deputy CM O Paneerselvam behind the searches, The Indian Express reported.
The raids shows OPS and EPS would commit any treachery to save their posts. The searches are an assault on Amma’s legacy and EPS and OPS are behind it. People behind these raids have to answer one crore ADMK cadres.Dhinakaran to Indian Express
‘PM Never Visited When Amma Was Hospitalised’
Sensing a political opportunity, TTV Dhinakaran also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much talked about friendship with J Jayalalithaa.
The News Minute quoted TTV Dhinakaran as saying, “When Amma was in hospital, PM who claims that he was her friend never visited her. But now, he has gone and visited Karunanidhi. We never made this a political issue when the visit happened. But now a shrine of the AIADMK, the residence of former CM has been raided.”
Dhinakaran claimed the raids were a part of the BJP's plan to target the family.
Arun Jaitley and PM are trying to destroy our family using the IT wing, which is under their control. We are not scared and we will not run away.Dhinakaran
Jaya’s Home a Temple, I-T Raid Gives Great Pain: EPS Faction
While Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EPS and his Deputy CM O Panneerselvam have remained silent so far, several members of the ruling faction chose to speak out, and attempted to distance themselves from the raids. Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan was one of the first to react to the raids.
Whatever be the reason, a raid in Poes Garden where Amma lived gives great pain. As far as I’m concerned, Amma’s home is a temple.V Maitreyan’s FB post
Fisheries Minister Jayakumar, however, pinned the blame on sidelined AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala and family. “The raids that happened at Amma’s residence have caused us great pain. But after Amma’s death, Sasikala and her relatives including Dhinakaran, lived in that house so that is the problem. So, people of Tamil Nadu need to understand because of whom this problem has happened. Sasikala and her family are the reason. The person whom we honour as our god, raids at Amma’s house has caused great pain,” said Jayakumar.
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