I-T department raids late Jayalalithaa's house
The Income Tax department conducted a raid at late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's Chennai residence despite protests by AIADMK members. Sources said that the searches were confined to rooms used by the AIADMK supremo's personal assistant S Poongundran at "Veda Nilayam" in the upscale Poes Garden area. Rooms used by jailed and deposed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala were also searched.
Details about the raid
The searches were carried out after the I-T department received clearance for the same from the court. Sources said that the I-T department had received information saying that certain people were planning to clandestinely remove crucial evidence from Veda Nilayam. The Adyar residence of S Poongundran, one of Jayalalithaa's most trusted aides, was also searched.
I-T officials seize evidence from Veda Nilayam
During the raid, I-T officials seized electronic gadgets, including a laptop and a storage device. Lawyers representing Sasikala asked to be present during the raids, but were denied permission for the same by I-T officials. The raid comes days after I-T officials ended their five-day-long multi-city searches at 187 locations linked to ten income tax assesse groups associated with Sasikala, her kin, and associates.
