DVAC raids 16 premises of former DMK minister

, May 17: Vigilance officials today conducted

at 16 premises belonging to former

minister Veerapandi S Arumugam and his relatives in Chennai and Salem in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption personnel raided the residences of Arumugam, his son Raja and others after it filed a case charging him with amassing over Rs 2.88 crore during his tenure as Agriculture Minister in the previous DMK regime, a DVAC press release here said.

"As an essential part of investigation, searches are being conducted today at 16 places," it said.

The DMK strongman is already facing a land grab case against him.

Arumugam is the latest among several DMK leaders and former ministers, besides MLAs to face police and DVAC action either on land grab charges or allegations of disproportionate assets, after the AIADMK government came to power in April last year.

DVAC had earlier in the year conducted raids at the houses of 11 former DMK ministers, J Anbazhagan, MLA and former legislator B Ranganathan.

PTI