DVAC conducts raid in former AIADMK ministers residences

Chennai, Sep 8 (UNI) Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DAVC) officials today conducted mass raids in the residences and connected premises of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and former AIADMK Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan and their relatives and friends in different parts of Tamil Nadu.

T K Rajendran Inspector General of police DVAC said in a press release the raids were conducted in 22 different places to detect wealth accumulated during the AIADMK regime, which was deemed disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Mr Rajendran said on credible information about the accumulation of pecuniary resources and properities of Mr Panneerselvam, who was a minister for Public Works and Highways department in the previous AIADMK regime, which were far beyond his known sources of income, a case has been registered against him at Madurai.

In this connection, searches were conducted at five places at Periyakulam and six in Chennai, including a star hotel room at Chennai, where Mr Panneerselvam was staying and incriminating documents were seized.

A similar case has been registerd at Tuticorin against former AIADMK minister for Housing and Urban Development Anita Radhakrishnan, in which they conducted search as in five places at Tuticorin and its suburbs, one place at Tirunelveli, four places at Madurai and two places at Chennai, where they also seized incriminating documents.

Both the cases were under investigation.

About 200 police personnel in 22 teams headed by each Deputy Superintendent of police had conducted the search, he added.

AIADMK Supremo and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa termed the raids as ''political vendatta''.

Speaking to newspersons after visiting the office of Tamil eveninger 'Makkak Kural' on the occasion of its 34th Founding Day, she said the raids were expected.

''We expected the raids immediatley after the conclusion of the Assembly session. It has come now,'' she said.

Stating that it was Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's vindictive action, she said the raids, even if conducted several times, would not yield anything.

''We cannot be cowed down by such actions,'' she added.

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