Officers of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Wednesday conducted raids on the houses of former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister N.K.K.P. Raja, his family members and friends at eight places in the district as part of a State-wide search in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
Nearly 100 officials were involved in the State-wide raid that began around 6.30 a.m.
A number of documents pertaining to land and property deals were seized, officials who were part of the raid here said. The lockers that Mr. Raja operated in various banks were also searched.
Mr. Raja, however, told reporters that no documents were seized and that the searches were “routine”. He would face the case in court.
Searches were also carried out in Mr. Raja's house at Shenoy Nagar in Chennai and a relative's house at Karur, DVAC sources said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Murugesan led the team that searched the house in Selvam Nagar (Erode) where Mr. Raja is staying.
When vigilance officials told Mr. Raja about the search, he did not oppose it.
As the news about the raids spread, a large number of DMK workers gathered in front Mr. Raja's residence at Selvam Nagar.
On the basis of specific information that Mr. Raja had acquired movable/immovable properties disproportionate to his known sources of income during the period 2006-10, the DVAC conducted a preliminary enquiry. Since prima facie an offence was made out in the enquiry, the agency registered a criminal case against the former Minister under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
