Chennai: Sleuths from Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption today conducted raids at more than 30 places across Tamilnadu including Chennai.
The properties were linked to ‘Salem’ Elangovan, who is said to be a close aide of former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Elangovan, Chairman of Tamilnadu State Apex Cooperative Bank during the previous AIADMK regime, was considered close to Palaniswami, who is now the Leader of Opposition and joint coordinator of the AIADMK.
Sources said a case has been registered against Elangovan and his son E Praveen Kumar. ‘Raids started this morning and are going on. Outcome may be known only around evening,’ sources added.
It is said that the case has been registered for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
Today’s action comes just a few days after at least 50 premises linked to former Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar, spread across six districts in Tamilnadu, were searched by DVAC teams comprising more than 30 Deputy Superintendents of Police and 150 other personnel. Earlier, properties linked to former Ministers S P Velumani, Veeramani and M R Vijaya Bhaskar were raided.
Meanwhile, AIADMK top leaders O Panneerselvam and Palaniswami condemned the raids, saying it showed political vendetta, and an effort to get ‘temporary happiness’.