Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin spoke to Ponmudy over the phone and assured him of support from the DMK on the issue.
Published Jul 19, 2023 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 19, 2023 | 7:00 AM
Higher Education Minister Ponmudi arrives at ED Office at Nungambakkam in Chennai on Tuesday (Supplied)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday, 18 July, clarified that it had seized various incriminating documents, liquid cash, and British pounds in the raids conducted on the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his son Gowtham Sigamani, who is a DMK MP.
A day after a 12-hour raid conducted at seven places on properties connected to the minister and his son in Chennai and Viluppuram, the ED on Tuesday issued a statement, that it had seized various incriminating documents and cash amounting to ₹81.7 lakh.
ED has conducted search operations under PMLA, 2002 on 17/07/2023 at seven locations connected to K. Ponmudy, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and a serving Minister of Higher Education in the Government of Tamil Nadu, and his son, Gautam Sigamani, MP.
— ED (@dir_ed) July 18, 2023
The agency also found British pounds worth ₹13 lakh in the minister’s house in Chennai, and that was seized. Fixed Deposits of ₹41.9 crore were also frozen by the ED.
Meanwhile, Ponmudy and his son Gowtham appeared before the ED officials at the Office of the Joint Director of ED at Nungambakkam in Chennai for the second consecutive day.
As per the summons issued to the minister and his son to appear before it on Tuesday, Ponmudy appeared before the ED officials at 4 pm on Tuesday.
According to sources, ED officials questioned Gowtham about his investments in Indonesia and also about the details of the cash found during the raid.
The officials handed over the questions in writing and recorded the written statements of the minister and his son.
After six hours of interrogation, Ponmudy and his son were let off by the ED officials.
Sources close to Ponmudy told South First that no summons was issued seeking their appearance further.
On Monday night, Ponmudy was taken to the Nungambakkam ED office after the raids and interrogated till 3 am on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin told reporters at the Chennai airport on Tuesday night that the ED raids were expected.
“In the coming days, they (the BJP) will torture us intensively and we are ready to face it and will deal with it legally,” he said.
According to the ED, it was correct not to touch the political parties that were in alliance with the BJP, Stalin charged.
Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment on the Opposition parties’ meeting that was held in Bengaluru, Stalin pointed out that the NDA leaders’ meeting was held on the same day.
He asked reporters: “Did you notice who was made to sit near Modi? The persons who he (Modi) charged in the past as corrupt are now close to him. It is waggish that he speaks about corruption.”
Earlier in the day, Stalin, who was in Bengaluru to participate in the Opposition leaders’ meet, spoke to Ponmudy over the phone and assured him of support on the issue.
“The party will stand by Ponmudy, and will offer its support politically and legally,” Stalin said.
