Chennai: Officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at the premises of Tamil Nadu Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Minister V Senthilbalaji and his
brother’s premises in connection with the job racket case.
The raids were being conducted at the Minister’s official residence in Chennai, his brother Ashok’s residence and at locations linked to them in Karur and Coimbatore.
The raids were conducted under CRPF police protection and later Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed for security.
Some bank officials were also present along with the ED officials during the raids.
Later, in the noon, ED and some bank officials also searched his official chamber at the State Secretariat. This was for the second time raids were held at the Secretariat.
Earlier, Income Tax officials raided the chamber of former Chief Secretary P.Rama Mohana Rao in December 2016.
Mr Senthilbalaji, who had gone for a walk, hurriedly returned home after being informed about the ED raids.
He said he would extend his full cooperation to the Ed officials. “I am not required by law to be informed of an enforcement investigation. Details of confiscation have already been
explained in the Income Tax Department. The full details will be revealed after the Ed’s investigation is over”, he said.
“I will fully cooperate with the investigation by the ED authorities. I am ready to explain the documents if asked.
I will give full cooperation to the enforcement department or income tax department. Let’s see what happens. Only at the end of the test will we know what purpose they have
come,” he said.
The raids were follow up action to the searches conducted by Income-Tax officials at Mr Ashok’s residence and their family members in more than 40 locations two weeks back.
