<p>Income Tax sleuths on Thursday morning swooped down on more than 100 premises belonging to V V Minerals and its owner V Vaikundarajan across Tamil Nadu.</p>.<p>The company is one of the largest firms in India that is involved in the export of garnet and other rare minerals found in beach sands.</p>.<p>The I-T raids have political undertones since Vaikundarajan is close to jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran. It came just hours before the Madras High Court was to deliver its verdict on the disqualification of 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to Dhinakaran by Speaker P Dhanapal. </p>.<p>I-T sources said the raids were conducted in more than 100 premises in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Chennai and other cities where the V V Minerals has assets. The group owns a Tamil news television channel and has interests in several other areas like packaged drinking water and refined sugar.</p>.<p><em><strong>Further details are awaited.</strong></em></p>
<p>Income Tax sleuths on Thursday morning swooped down on more than 100 premises belonging to V V Minerals and its owner V Vaikundarajan across Tamil Nadu.</p>.<p>The company is one of the largest firms in India that is involved in the export of garnet and other rare minerals found in beach sands.</p>.<p>The I-T raids have political undertones since Vaikundarajan is close to jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran. It came just hours before the Madras High Court was to deliver its verdict on the disqualification of 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to Dhinakaran by Speaker P Dhanapal. </p>.<p>I-T sources said the raids were conducted in more than 100 premises in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Chennai and other cities where the V V Minerals has assets. The group owns a Tamil news television channel and has interests in several other areas like packaged drinking water and refined sugar.</p>.<p><em><strong>Further details are awaited.</strong></em></p>