The Income Tax department on Thursday visited a building opposite Veda Nilayam, the residence of former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa at Poes Garden, for revocation of prohibitory orders. The tax officials went to five other premises across the State in places including Coimbatore and Tiruchi for lifting prohibitory orders.
These orders were issued during a massive search called Operation Clean Money, that the I-T department conducted at over 187 places belonging to sidelined AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala and her family members in November 2017.
A senior official from the Income Tax – Investigations Wing, said, “This was not a raid. We are lifting prohibitory orders.” He refused to divulge further details. Last week, the I-T department lifted prohibitory orders at more than 13 places.
“The building that the I-T team went to at Poes Garden is right opposite Veda Nilayam and the things there belonged to Sasikala,” said a source, who was a part of the team.
According to another senior official at the I-T department, there are more pending prohibitory orders and the revocation process would happen in the next few days. Such orders are valid for 60 days. Searches conclude when prohibitory order is lifted and ‘panchnama’ is prepared.
The raids in November 2017 were conducted with the assistance of over 1,000 I-T officials.
The taxmen detected tax evasion on the income of ₹1,430 crore, after the five day searches. The taxmen also seized ₹7 crore in cash and jewellery worth more than ₹5 crore.
Documents pertaining to immovable assets and a few companies were also found during the operation. During second week of November 2017, the I-T department officials searched two rooms at Veda Nilayam where they seized electronic gadgets including laptop, desktop and storage devices.
