The Director of Income Tax (investigation) Sivasankaran on Sunday, May 28, said the attack on I-T Department officials, allegedly by the DMK workers and the supporters of Minister for Electricity, Excise and Prohibition V. Senthilbalaji in Karur two days ago, was “deliberate”.
The police, on Sunday, arrested eight persons, most of them ruling DMK functionaries, on the charge of attacking the officials when they sought to carry out searches in different places including the house of V. Ashok Kumar, brother of Minister for Electricity, Excise and Prohibition V. Senthilbalaji, on Friday.
Arun (27) and Bupesh (35) of Karur, who were said to have damaged the vehicle of I-T officials, were among those arrested. A police officer told The Hindu that video footage, which had become vital in identifying those who attacked the I-T officials and the vehicle used by them, were being verified. Steps were taken to arrest all those involved in the incident.
Searches continue for third consecutive day
Meanwhile, the searches being carried out by the I-T officials on the premises of persons linked to Mr. Senthilbalaji continued for the third consecutive day on Sunday.
The residence of Tharani Saravanan, Karur Deputy Mayor at Rayanur, two more houses in the same area, two popular restaurants on Karur-Coimbatore road, a firm involved in executing government contracts and a finance company at Vaiyapuri Nagar were among places, where searches were being taken up by the I-T officials. However, no search was undertaken on Sunday in the residence of Mr. Ashok Kumar.
Mr. Sivasankaran said counter and malicious complaints would not intimidate the officials. He spoke to reporters after visiting four I-T Department officials at the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) here, where they were under treatment after suffering injuries in the incident reported in front of the house of V. Ashok Kumar, brother of the Minister, and others in different parts of Karur on Friday, May 26.
Mr. Sivasankaran said a woman official had suffered fracture and three others had suffered internal injuries. The attacks were deliberate. They were assaulted in such a manner that injuries should not be physically known, he charged.
Mr. Sivasankaran said the officials were assaulted and evidences were tampered at various places. The police had said that eight persons had been arrested in connection with the attacks. “We will file more cases against the persons, who tampered with the evidences and attacked the officials at multiple locations, and we will ensure that action is taken against the offenders.” he said.
‘Won’t be scared by case’
Responding to the allegations levelled by the DMK workers that a woman official had attacked them in front of Mr. Ashok Kumar’s residence when she went for the search, Mr. Sivasankaran sought evidence. There were video evidences on the ruckus and the vandalism orchestrated by them. It was in limelight. The media personnel had watched the incidents. They (those who levelled allegations) were wrong if they thought that the officials would be scared by- a case was registered against them.
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Asked whether there was any seizure during the searches, the Director said the searches were under way at many places and the details would be disclosed at the end of the operation.
