I-T sleuths 'raid' premises of Jaya TV

Income Tax sleuths on Thursday raided the premises of Tamil television channel Jaya TV and a farmhouse of deposed AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran in neighbouring Puducherry as part of multiple searches over suspected tax evasion.

The sleuths also searched the premises of some others linked to Dhinakaran and his jailed aunt V K Sasikala, said an I-T department official, who did not want to be named.

Jaya TV, the channel of late chief minister Jayalalithaa and which is known to be a mouthpiece of AIADMK, is perceived to be favourably politically disposed towards Sasikala and Dhinakaran.

The searches that began early this morning were being conducted over suspected tax evasion as part of 'Operation Clean Money' that was initiated post-demonetisation, the official said.

The simultaneous searches, spread across multiple locations in Tamil Nadu, includes the premises of associates and some relatives of Sasikala and Dhinakaran. Also, searches were being held in other cities including Bengaluru.

Dhinakaran, the deposed deputy general secretary of the AIADMK and who is locked in a turf war with the faction led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam over control of the party, said his farmhouse was searched while denying that his house was raided. Among the premises being searched includes that of Sasikala's Tiruvarur district based brother Divakaran.

Also, the allegation covers aspects like shell companies, dubious investments, fund flow and fudging of accounts, the I-T official told PTI. Searches also covered the premises of Midas Distilleries and Jazz Cinemas, the official said. The two entities are perceived to be associated with some of those linked to Jaya TV, Sasikala and Dhinakaran.

Jaya TV also reported the searches by tax sleuths on its premises and at Jazz cinemas. It was being conducted by more than 10 groups since this morning, the official said. TTV Dhinakaran, meanwhile, told reporters that his residential premises here was not searched as claimed by a section of media. He, however, said his farmhouse off Auroville at Puducherry was searched. "I think they have concluded search there," he said. He said an "official" visited his residence here and left. He added that it is, however, not known if the official will return and hold searches.