Income Tax officials are carrying out searches at various premises linked to Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, Excise and Prohibition V. Senthilbalaji, in Karur and a few other places on Friday, May 26, 2023.
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The searches began around 6.30 a.m. on Friday. The house of V. Ashok, brother of Mr. Senthilbalaji, in Ramakrishnapuram in Karur is among the premises, being searched by the IT officials.
The searches come days after the AIADMK and the BJP presented separate petitions to Governor R.N. Ravi, alleging large-scale irregularities in the functioning of Tasmac outlets and the private bars attached to them in different places of the State.
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Minister’s supporters attack
As information about the searches by I-T officials spread, a large number of DMK cadres and the supporters of Mr. Senthilbalaji assembled before the house of Mr. Ashok. Expressing anguish over the I-T Department’s actions, they raised slogans against the Union government.
The cadre also gheraoed a woman I-T official when she attempted to gain entry into the house of Mr. Ashok. The cadres, who insisted on her showing them her identity card, entered into a heated argument with her. They claimed the official had assaulted a DMK cadre.
Angry protesters also pelted stones on a vehicle of the I-T officials, damaging the windscreen and mirrors of the car. On receiving this, information, the police arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control.
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ANI adds:
Annamalai accuses DMK of manhandling officials
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai on Friday slammed DMK accusing it of "manhandling officials and vandalising vehicles" during the income tax raids in the state. Visuals showed DMK workers entering into a scuffle with the I-T officials, when they had come to search the premises of Minister Senthilbalaji's brother Ashok, in Karur district.
Taking to Twitter, Mr. Annamalai said, "I-T officials manhandled, vehicles vandalised by DMK goons in support of Cash for Job Scam Minister Senthilbalaji and his brother. TN CM Thiru (MK Stalin) should instruct his partymen to behave responsibly and remind them that we don't live in the 60s".