I-T searches conspiracy to squeeze us out from politics: Dhinakaran

Chennai, November 18

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Beleaguered AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran claimed on Saturday that Income Tax raids at late chief minister Jayalalithaa’s residence were part of a conspiracy against him and his aunt VK Sasikala.

Income Tax investigators searched an office block and a room that Sasikala used in Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence 'Veda Nilayam' on Saturday.

Dhinakaran accused his rival, Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswami, of not opposing the raids.

 “The Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa was a sacred place (punitha sthalam) for over 1.5 crore party workers and I-T sleuths conducting searches there had hurt them,” he told reporters at Thoothukudi. "There is certainly a political motive behind the raids... they want to finish us off, squeeze us out of politics. Those in government allowing these raids will have to answer at an appropriate time," he said.

Chief Minister Palaniswami however dismissed the allegations.

"There is no link between the Income Tax raids and the state government. People know who are responsible for the I-T raids at Poes Garden," he told reporters in Madurai, hinting at possible tax evasion by his rivals.

“Mistakes committed by some people had brought disrepute to the party. Those responsible for the blemish are responsible for the raids,” Palaniswami said, adding that the former chief minister’s room was not searched.

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan also dismissed allegations that the central government was targeting Sasikala’s family.

"We should not see the raids as against a particular family or particular party. People's money has been swindled... the government is trying to retrieve the money. We should welcome it, not oppose it," he told reporters at Oddapidaram near Tuticorin.

Jayalalithaa's niece J Deepa meanwhile accused Sasikala’s family of using the raids to defame the later chief minister.

"This property was earned by Amma by her blood and sweat (as an actor in the) film industry. This raid is being carried out to defame Amma and was done with the cooperation of the family of Sasikala," she said. “That is why Sasikala's nephew and Jaya TV CEO, Vivek Jayaraman was present at Veda Nilayam during the searches.”

Tax investigators searched a record room, as well as rooms Sasikala and Jayalalithaa’s aide Poongundran used in searches conducted on Friday. PTI