IT seizes Rs 163 crore cash, 100 kg gold, opposition seeks TN CM’s resignation

Chennai : Leaders of major political parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday demanded a multi-agency probe into the affairs of road contractors raided by Income Tax department in the state and also the resignation of Chief Minister K. Palaniswami.

The demand follows the IT department’s seizure of unaccounted Rs 163 crore in cash and 100 kg of gold during searches carried out in the premises of Nagarajan Seyyadurai, promoter of SPK & Co, employees and associates.

The IT department also said that apart from the unaccounted assets, incriminating documents in the form of registers, diaries and loose sheets were also seized.

While Rs 24 lakh cash was seized from Seyyadurai’s residence, the remaining cash and gold were kept at the places of his employees, associates and in cars.

The SPK group has interests in road contracts and other businesses.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin questioned the silence of Chief Minister Palaniswami after the IT search and seizure of huge amount of cash and gold from road building contractors who bid for state government road projects.

Stalin demanded the resignation of Palaniswami to ensure a proper investigation.

Stalin, the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, sought the cancellation of all contracts given to companies promoted by Seyyadurai and the kin of Palaniswami who is also into road construction business.

Former Union Minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said the seizure of cash and gold clearly showed that these were not earned in a proper manner.

Ramadoss said the kin of the Chief Minister was too involved in road contracting business in Tamil Nadu.

He said there should be a multi-agency probe involving the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following the IT search and seizures.

Published on: July 17, 2018 at 19:10 IST

IANS