Chennai: The Income Tax Department conducted raids on Friday at various locations connected to Tamil Nadu Minister E V Velu, including his residence, his office in Chennai, and educational institutions in Tiruvannamalai and other districts. These raids are linked to alleged tax evasion by the Public Works Minister.
Velu is the fourth senior DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader to undergo investigations by central agencies recently, following ministers V Senthil Balaji, K Ponmudy, and MP S Jagathrakshakan. Senthil Balaji was arrested in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scandal in the state transport department and is currently in custody.
The Tamil Nadu BJP has alleged that Velu, a senior DMK leader, has been involved in significant irregularities through business and has called for an investigation against him. In response, the DMK claims that the central government is behind these raids. Chief Minister Stalin argues that the BJP is apprehensive about the INDIA front, which is why these raids are taking place.
Velu, who previously served as the Food Minister in the DMK government from 2006 to 2011, assumed the role of Public Works Minister in 2021.
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