Tamil Nadu: IT Raids DMK Minister EV Velu's Premises

The Income Tax Department on Friday raided the premises linked to Tamil Nadu Minister for PWD and Highways EV Velu.

The IT sleuths are conducting searches at over 100 locations associated with the DMK minister. These searches encompass a financial institution in the Gandhipuram area of Karur district, as well as his residence and college in Tiruvannamalai.

The real estate firms such as Casa Grande and Appasamy Real Estates have also come under the IT department's scanner. Also, the premises of PWD contractors are also being searched, according to a report in The Times Of India.

Velu, a senior DMK leader, holds the Public Works portfolio in the MK Stalin-led cabinet.

Velu is the second notable DMK minister to be under the income tax department's scrutiny within a month, following DMK MP Jagathrakshakan, whose properties, including educational institutions, were subjected to searches in the initial week of October.

Subsequently, the department reported uncovering tax evasion amounting to several hundred crores of rupees and confiscating gold and cash from two business groups, one of which is linked to Jagathrakshakan.