I-T sleuths search TN Minister EV Velu’s properties; 2nd DMK functionary to be raided in a month

Accompanied by CRPF personnel, the I-T officials swooped down on the premises around 7 am, and started searching the minister’s property at his home village Kilnachipattu in Tiruvannamalai, and his premises at T Nagar, Kilpauk, Thiruvanmiyur, and Vepery in Chennai, among other places.

Velu, a powerful minister in the MK Stalin Cabinet, joined the DMK in 1997 after resigning from the AIADMK. He had served as the food minister in M Karunanidhi’s Cabinet during 2006-2011, and was allotted PWD and highways portfolio in the current Cabinet.

Considered a big fundraiser for the party, Velu is the second prominent DMK functionary to be searched by the I-T department in a month. On 5 October, the I-T Department searched the properties and institutions of DMK MP S Jagathrakshakan.

Also read: I-T seizes ₹32 cr cash, bullion worth ₹28 cr from TN, Puducherry

Medical and engineering colleges searched

Further, a separate team of I-T officials started search operations at the Arunai Medical College and Hospital owned by the minister at Thenmathur in the Tiruvannamalai district. The properties of the minister’s son EV Kumaran, too, were being inspected.

Searchers were also on at the Jeeva Educational Trust, which manages the Kamban Engineering College and Arunai Engineering College, owned by Velu and his family.

Students, teaching, and non-teaching staff were denied permission to enter the colleges, with armed CRPF jawans guarding the closed gates.

According to a source South First reached out to, Minister Velu was in Tiruvannamalai when the I-T operation began. “The minister came to his native place on Thursday night to attend a government function, which is scheduled to be held today (Friday)”, the source said.

The properties of a few PWD contractors in Karur, Coimbatore, and Tiruvannamalai were also being searched.

In Tiruvannamalai, the I-T officials were conducting searches at more than 16 places. Over 200 I-T sleuths and 100 CRPF personnel were involved in the operation.

In Karur, the I-T Department searched the premises of Padma, the sister of DMK’s late district secretary Vasuki Murugesan.

In Coimbatore, the searches were being carried out at the residence of Meena Jayakumar, the deputy secretary of the DMK’s art and literature wing. Jayakumar’s husband is a well-known realtor in Coimbatore.

In Villupuram, the premises of a businessman and the minister’s relative Prem was searched.

Also read: I-T officials find ₹1,000 crore tax evasion by DMK MP Jagathrakshakan

DMK workers react

As the information of the searches spread., a large number of DMK workers and supporters assembled before the minister’s residence and raised slogans against the Union government and the I-T department. The local police pacified them and tried to shift them away.

The functionaries of the DMK’s legal wing were present at the places where searches were carried out.

According to senior police officers, the I-T Department had not sought the protection of the state police. However, the district police units concerned were advised to provide necessary protection outside the searched properties.

Reacting to the raids, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker, M Appavu said that the agencies of the Union government were targeting the non-BJP governments according to the wishes of their BJP bosses, especially since the elections were nearing.

In the case of DMK MP S Jagathrakshakan, the I-T Department said that he had evaded tax to the tune of ₹1,000 crore.