The Katpadi police have filed cases against DMK’s Vellore candidate Kathir Anand and partymen Poonjolai Srinivasan and Damodaran in connection with the seizure of ₹11.48 crore from a cement godown in Nadumottur village in Katpadi region by Income Tax officials.
Police said that a case had been filed under Section 125(A) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 and Sections 171(B)(2) and 171(E) of the Indian Penal Code for filing false affidavits and attempting to bribe voters.
According to a complaint filed by an election department official, Mr. Anand had filed an affidavit with the Election Commission declaring that he and his wife Sangeetha Kathir had ₹7.43 lakh in cash. However, the cash seized from premises belonging to Mr. Anand was in excess of that amount. Subsequently, ₹11.48 crore was seized by I-T officials from partymen owing allegiance to DMK treasurer Durai Murugan and Mr. Anand, it was reported.
The I-T department has submitted a report to the Election Commission on the cash seized and incidents that preceeded the raids on March 29 and April 1. The amount seized was claimed by Mr. Srinivasan to be his and meant for distribution to voters. The cash, in small denominations, was found in packed covers and numbered ward-wise.
DMK treasurer and Mr. Anand’s father Durai Murugan issued a statement claiming that the cash did not belong to them.
