Agencies
Income Tax officials are conducting raids at the properties of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao and his close associates in Chennai. The raid began simultaneously at his residence and the premises of his close associates in at least ten locations in the city in the small hours today.
According to media reports over 100 sleuths of the IT Department are involved in the search operation.
The search on the state government’s topmost official is reportedly a sequel to the raids on the premises of sand mining baron Sekhar Reddy and his two friends in Vellore a fortnight ago. The IT search at Vellore unearthed over Rs 134 crore cash including Rs 34 crore worth new Rs 2000 notes.
The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate also joined the probe following the startling revelations and filed cases agaist the trio including under sections of money laundering.
It is believed that the inquiries helped the IT sleuths to widen their net, leading to the searches that are under way now. Mr Reddy is considered to be very close to Mr Rama Mohana Rao. The raid is believed to go on for more than a day and confirmation about the findings are expected to be known only after its conclusion.
The opposition leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly and DMK treasurer MK Stalin said the raid against chief secretary Rama Mohana Rao is unprecedented, denting the image of the state. In a statement in Chennai, he has called for stringent and transparent action against politicians and officials who are indulging in corrupt practices.