No irregularities in highways tender: TN CM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday termed as “routine” raids by Income Tax department on major highway contractor, SPK Group, and dismissed allegations of “irregularities” in awarding tenders.

“Income Tax department is an arm of the Union government and its job is to check whether people pay tax proportionate to their income. If anyone has not paid the required amount of tax, there will be searches. To say I-T raids are in connection with irregularities in awarding tenders is just political,” Palaniswami told reporters in Coimbatore.

He was speaking to reporters on his way to Salem, from where he will proceed to Mettur for opening the gates of the Stanley Reservoir for irrigation purposes in the Cauvery Delta region.

Palaniswami said the contracts for construction of highways and their maintenance were being awarded in accordance with rules and there was no room for any irregularities.

He was responding to questions about the reported links between his family members and SPK group, from whose premises Rs 170 crore in cash and gold bullion of 105 kg were recovered.