Chennai, Apr 22:
The Income Tax Department has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India and the Greater Chennai City Police seeking legal action against K Selvaperunthagai for allegedly making “false and misleading” claims of wrongful confinement during poll-time operations.
In a statement, the Central Board of Direct Taxes denied the TNCC chief’s allegation that he was unlawfully confined on April 20 under the pretext of search operations. It clarified that no search, survey, or enforcement action was carried out against him on that day or in the recent past.
The department further stated that no action was taken to restrict his movement and that no premises, including his residence in Kilpauk, were covered under any IT proceedings. It termed the claims “baseless and factually incorrect.”
According to the CBDT, limited verification exercises were conducted in parts of Sriperumbudur based on intelligence inputs regarding suspected movement of unaccounted cash. These, it said, were routine checks carried out in coordination with authorities and had no connection to Selvaperunthagai, nor did they lead to any findings warranting further action.
The department has now approached the poll body and the police, seeking initiation of legal proceedings for dissemination of false information and defamation against a government agency.
Earlier, Selvaperunthagai had alleged misuse of authority, calling the incident an attack on democratic principles and claiming it hindered his election campaign. He had termed it politically motivated and said such actions undermine public trust.
The issue drew political reactions, with M. K. Stalin and DMK allies condemning the alleged incident as vindictive and aimed at disrupting opposition campaigning. Congress leaders, including Girish Chodankar, also termed it an attempt to intimidate the opposition.
However, leaders of the AIADMK and the BJP rejected the allegations, stating that no such raids had taken place and accusing the TNCC chief of making unfounded claims.
The CBDT’s clarification and complaint come amid heightened political exchanges in the final phase of campaigning ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.