IT Raids At Locations Linked To TN Minister Senthil Balaji; DMK Workers Clash With Officials

The Income Tax department on Friday carried out raids at around 40 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to the State Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji, ANI reported citing sources.

The coordinated searches across different locations are being held in cities including Karur and Coimbatore, at the premises of individuals allegedly linked to the minister.

The premises of his close relatives and some contractors have reportedly come under scanner, according to a report in PTI.

Balaji is a senior DMK leader from Karur and he holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio.

Meanwhile, a clash broke out between the DMK workers and IT officials, who came to search the premises of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji's brother Ashok, in Karur district, the visuals shared by ANI showed.

On the other hand, BJP TN Chief Annamalai slammed the DMK and tweeted, "IT officials manhandled, vehicles vandalised by DMK goons in support of Cash for Job Scam Minister Senthil Balaji & his brother.

TN CM Thiru @mkstalin should instruct his partymen to behave responsibly & remind them that we don't live in the 60s."

However, the development comes at a time when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin is on an official foreign trip. He embarked on a nine-day tour of Singapore and Japan with the aim of attracting more investments to the state.

"The key motive of this visit (to Singapore and Japan) is to extend the invitation (to investors) for the 2024 Global Investors Meet," the Chief Minister said.

It may be recalled that the Tamil Nadu CM had visited Dubai last year and signed pacts with six investors to the tune of Rs 6,100 crore that would ensure 15,100 job opportunities.

However, the AIADMK has slammed Stalin and said that he went on a "pleasure trip."