NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, AUG 16
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting raids at multiple locations linked to Tamil Nadu Minister I. Periyasamy and his MLA son I.P. Senthil Kumar, and daughter. Teams of officials reached his residence on Greenways Road in Chennai, his MLA guest house at Thiruvallikeni, and several properties in Madurai and Dindigul on Saturday morning.
According to sources, about a dozen officials, in three different teams, arrived at the three residential premises at around 7.30 a.m. The premises, located in Durairaj Nagar, Vallalar Nagar, and Seelapadi in the district, were guarded by armed CRPF personnel.
The searches are part of an investigation into suspected money laundering and illegal financial transactions.
The operation has created tension, especially near the minister’s Greenways Road home, where some people initially prevented ED officials from entering the premises.
Security has been tightened in the area, and heavy deployment of police has been reported.
The raids are still in progress, with officers said to be scrutinising property and financial records.
This action is seen as part of a wider pattern of central agency interventions in Tamil Nadu.
Earlier this year, the ED probed alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 1,000-crore in TASMAC, and examined the tender processes, inflated charges on liquor bottles, and manipulation of licensing.
Raids were carried out at the residences of senior officials including the TASMAC Managing Director, as well as at several distillery operators’ offices.
With the raids on Minister Periyasamy now underway, political circles in Tamil Nadu are closely watching developments.
The ruling DMK has in the past accused central agencies of misusing their powers to target its leaders, while the Opposition has insisted that such investigations are necessary to expose corruption.
The outcome of the current searches is expected to have significant political and legal ramifications, further intensifying the friction between the state government and central enforcement agencies.
