Income Tax raids 40 locations linked to Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, clash between DMK workers and officers

On Friday, the Income Tax Department carried out raids at 40 different locations linked to Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji.

As per reports, the raids were conducted in 40 locations at premises, offices of government contractors having their association with Minister Balaji. The raids also include relatives of Balaji.

The searches were carried in Karur, Coimbatore and other cities, said reports.

V Senthil Balaji is the state’s Electricity Minister and is strongman of MK Stalin’s DMK from Karur. Balaji also holds the portfolio of Prohibition and Excise.

Meanwhile, clashes broke out between DMK party workers and IT officials who arrived at Balaji’s brother Ashok’s premises in Karur to conduct the searches.

The officials were allegedly asked to produce their ID cards and were questioned, party workers gathered in large numbers prevented the officials from doing their works and raised slogans.

Reports said, some also vandalised the authorities official vehicle breaking the mirror and windshield.

The raids come at a time when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is out on an official foreign tour.

The Supreme Court also had recently ordered a fresh inquiry against Minister Balaji and two others in connection to an alleged job recruitment scam in the state.

As per reports, Balaji has been accused of taking bribes from job aspirants in exchange of their recruitment in the state transport corporation between 2011 and 2015.

The opposition in the other hand has been making demands to remove Balaji from the state cabinet following the recent hooch tragedy in the state which took down the lives of 20 individuals.

A BJP delegation led by state president K Annamali had earlier also met  Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi handing over a petition demanding dismissal of Balaji as a Minister for his alleged involvment in the cash for jobs scam.