Politically motivated, says Dhinakaran

Sidelined AIADMK leader likens raids to a grand movie; says he did nothing illegal

T.T.V. Dhinakaran

The sidelined deputy general secretary of AIADMK (Amma), T.T.V. Dhinakaran, on Saturday said he was ‘clueless’ as to why his relatives and associates were made the “sole targets” of the Income Tax authorities.

“Why is it that the premises of those who have been Ministers for 15 years, a friend of [businessman] Sekar Reddy, those who have been Public Works and Highways [department] Ministers, those who have made Sekar Reddy a big contractor and those whose names are said to be in his diary have not been searched?” Mr. Dhinakaran questioned while addressing mediapersons outside his residence in Adyar here.

Questions motive

Reiterating his assertion that the searches were politically motivated, he said he could not understand why the residences of those who were considered to be his acquaintances and those of party functionaries who had nothing to do with his family were searched.

“What is the motive of showing that a mega raid has been carried out by 1,800 officials?” he wondered, adding that he was not against searches per se.

With regard to reports of seizure of gold and cash from properties belonging to his relatives, Mr. Dhinakaran said that although he was not speaking in support of his relatives, “one could not mechanically conclude that the cash seized is black money or that the gold taken is illegally acquired.” The facts would be known only after the investigation is completed, he said.

Pointing out that his relatives and others had cooperated with the authorities, he said they would face the situation on their own ‘boldly’. Clarifying that he could speak only for himself and his wife, he said that as far as their transactions were concerned, there was “nothing illegal”.

Responding to his political rivals, who had poked fun at him by questioning whether he was Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson [i.e. whether he was an upright person], he said, “I am not talking like a grandson of Gandhi. I am an average person. I do not know whether those who complain against me are grandsons or granddaughters of Gandhi.”

Thanking a few leaders of other parties who had expressed solidarity with him, Mr. Dhinakaran contended that while those perpetuating an “anti-people” regime were enjoying power in peace, others who were struggling to protect the party were having to face these raids.

“The raids were conducted in 180 to 190 locations. It all sounds like Shankar’s or Rajamouli’s grand movie. We will see to what extent they [the searches] are a hit,” he quipped.

His farm house and his wife’s business premises were searched. “They [I-T officials] could have completed the raid in three hours, but took three days,” he said.