Tamil Nadu’s State Highways Minister, E V Velu, recently criticized the five-day Income Tax raids conducted at locations associated with him and others. Velu firmly expressed his belief that these raids were aimed at intimidating and paralyzing the DMK politically.Addressing the media in his hometown of Tiruvannamalai, Velu was resolute in his response to the allegations and rumors circulating about the raids. He stated that he felt compelled to clarify the situation, as some individuals had gone to great lengths to fabricate stories that tarnished his character.
Velu made a bold declaration, stating, “I am ready to take responsibility and answer for any money seized from my home, my wife’s place, my two children’s places, my educational institutions, or any locations related to me. Not a single penny has been seized from any of our properties.”
One of the key points Velu raised was his lack of knowledge about Abiramani Ramanathan, whose name had surfaced in connection with the raids. He emphasized that he had no personal acquaintance with this individual and had never had the opportunity to socialize with him. He did acknowledge visiting an Abirami theater in the distant past but saw no connection between that and the ongoing investigation.
Furthermore, Velu disassociated himself from any links to real estate firms Casa Grande and Appasamy, reiterating his lack of knowledge about Abiram Ramanthan. He questioned the logic of holding him responsible for the financial dealings of individuals who may have met him in his capacity as a state minister.
Velu went on to emphasize that the DMK and he would not be intimidated by the income tax raids. He borrowed the words of his colleague, Udhayanidhi Stalin, suggesting that government agencies like the Income Tax Department had become instruments of the BJP and that the raids were politically motivated.
He shared distressing accounts of how his personal staff, such as his personal assistant (PA) and driver, were subjected to questioning and pressure during the raids. Velu emphasized that such actions were unwarranted, and his PA was even brought to tears due to the intensity of the questioning.
Velu pointed out that he, his wife, and his children were all income tax assessees, and the IT department’s actions had put significant mental pressure on his family. He emphasized that he wasn’t angry with the IT officers themselves, describing them as “arrows” fired from somewhere else, implying that higher authorities were behind the raids.
The State Highways Minister maintained his commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that he was duty-bound to address any accusations against him, even if it came from the opposition. He affirmed that his assets consisted of 48.33 acres of land and a house in Chennai.