Tamil Nadu: Police files FIR against I-T officers who conducted raids at Senthil Balaji’s properties

Also Read: I-T searches underway at TN Minister Senthil Balaji’s properties

Attempted search of deputy mayor’s house

In other developments, I-T officers sealed the house of Karur Corporation Deputy Mayor Dharani Saravanan on Friday evening, but later unsealed it.

Officials said that when they arrived on Friday morning to conduct a raid at the deputy mayor’s house, Saravanan was not cooperating and the DMK cadres were preventing them from entering the house.

Later in the afternoon, when the I-T sleuths left the scene, the deputy mayor was admitted to hospital following complaints of ill health.

That same evening, when I-T officials returned to the deputy mayor’s house — unaware that he was in the hospital — they found it locked and, thus, sealed the house. Following this action, DMK cadres blocked the cars of the I-T officials and demanded that they remove the seal.

Later, the I-T officials issued a raid notice to a functionary close to the deputy mayor and removed the seal.

Also Read: 14 parties petition SC against use of CBI, ED to target Opposition

Raids continue for the second day

On Saturday, 27 May, the I-T officials continued their raids for the second consecutive day at 22 places. Further searches are being conducted in a few locations in Kerala related to Senthil Balaji’s brother Ashok.

On Friday, nearly 30 teams of I-T sleuths conducted raids at properties related to Electricity Minister V Senthilbalaji and his brother V Ashok.

When the officials stormed the residence of minister’s younger brother at Ramakrishnapuram in Karur, the DMK cadres blocked them and sought their ID cards. It was also alleged that they had torn the search warrant. Further, I-T officers alleged that their vehicles were damaged by the cadres.

Later in the afternoon, the raids were resumed under the security of the Central Reserve Police. According to sources, the I-T officials seized a few electronic gadgets, including a laptop, and sealed a cupboard in Ashok’s house.

Also Read: I-T raids properties of real estate firm G Square, DMK’s MK Mohan

This is not the first time that Balaji is coming under the I-T radar.

In September 2017, the I-T Department inspected his properties following complaints of him defrauding several persons by promising them jobs in the transport department when he was the minister in 2015.

In April 2021, after Balaji joined DMK and was announced as the candidate from the Aravakurichi constituency, the I-T sleuths conducted searches at his residence in Karur.

Also Read: SC nod to probe Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji

SC trouble for minister

Recently, the Supreme Court allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to continue its investigation against Balaji in a cash-for-job scam.

The court also directed the Chennai City Crime Branch (CCB) to further investigate all cases and invoke the Prevention of Corruption Act against the minister. The court asked the CCB to complete the investigation and submit the final report in two months.

The apex court ruled, “The Investigation Officer shall proceed with further investigation in all cases by including the offences under the PC Act (Prevention of Corruption Act). Any let up on the part of the Investigation Officer in this regard will pave way for this court to consider appointing a Special Investigation Team in the future.”

Further allowing the appeals filed by the ED, the court said, “The ED will now be entitled to proceed further from the stage at which their hands were tied by the impugned order.”

The court also observed, “Once a piece of information relating to the acquisition of huge amount of illegal gratification in the matter of public employment has come into the public domain, it is the duty of the ED to register an Information Report.”