DVAC searches at former TN minister's premises

Chennai, Oct 8: Vigilance and Anti Corruption officials today (Oct 8) conducted searches at seven premises of Suresh Rajan in Kanyamkumari and Tirunelveli districts on charges of possessing disproportionate assets, the sixth former DMK minister to come under the scanner.

Searches were conducted at Rajan's residence, steel factory, fish net factory and and its office premises and other places, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption said. The action came on the basis of a "specific and credible information" that Rajan had acquired movable and immovable properties disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2006 and 2010, it said in a statement.

A criminal case has been registered under section 13 (2) r/w 13 (1) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the DVAC said. Talking to reporters at Tirunelveli, Rajan said he was paying tax for his income promptly and was ready to face any investigation regarding his property.

Rajan, who held the Registration and Tourism portfolio, is the sixth former DMK minister against whom action has been taken by Jayalalithaa government after it came to power in May. Vigilance officials had earlier conducted raids at the premises of K Ponmudi, Veerapandi S Arumugam, K N Nehru, N K K P Raja and M R K Paannerselvam following complaints of land grabbing.

PTI