Involvement of 1,800 officials denied by top IT official; Terms the media filing such report as 'Samosa paper'
CHENNAI:
The five-day long raids by Income tax department against the close aides of jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala and ousted leader TTV Dinakaran has brought to light the concealment of Rs 1,430 crore worth of evasion of taxes.
“This is only paltry going by the amount of incriminating documents that we have seized during the raids. This is nothing when taken into account the incriminating documents we have,” a senior Income Tax official told Express after the culmination of raids on Monday evening.
The official also did not rule out the possibility of Enforcement Directorate launching the probe under Prevention of Money Laundering Act as the raids also involved shell companies. “It would be done as per the law,” he said.
The official also disclosed that the people whose premises are raided are not opening up on queries pertaining to shell companies.
“We have our own ways to find out,” he said. The major focus of the raids have been Krishna Priya, the niece of Sasikala, who is believed to a major operator of shell companies. “Vivek Jayaraman, who is the nephew of Sasikala, was not involved with shell companies earlier. Now he is part of it,” the official said.
The officials said that the large number of bank accounts were frozen by the investigating officers. Refusing to give out a number, he said that most of the shell companies have multiple bank accounts and they may have been frozen. He also refused to divulge the number of shell companies that were brought to light. While reports claim it could be around 100, he refused to divulge any information.
He also ruled out the possibility of summoning TTV Dhinakaran for enquiry. To a query on the raids in his farm house, the official said that it belonged to his wife Anuradha. “It is up to the investigating officer. He may or may not have issued summons seeking her appearance,” he said.
The official also said that Divakaran, the brother of Sasikala, has been summoned for investigation. This comes as almost all premises belonging to associates of Divakaran were raided in Mannargudi.
Interestingly, on Monday three close aides of Sasikala and Divakaran along with Vivek were summoned by the Investigating officers of Income Tax. They include AIADMK Karnataka State secretary, Pugazhendi, a trusted aide of Sasikala, S Poongundram and Dr Sivakumar.
Pugazhendi arrived at the Income Tax office at 11.30am and was grilled for nearly two hours. Before leaving the premises, he told reporters thatnothing has been detected during the raids and he is cooperating with the officials. “I have been asked to appear again day after tomorrow,” he said.
The official also rejected the claims of news reports that 1,800 personnel were deputed to conduct raids at 187 places, the official said that only 600 to 650 personnel were deployed. “We usually send two officials along with two witnesses. It is true that raids took place in 187 places but only 600 to 650 personnel were involved in the raids and not 1,800 as claimed by a reputed daily,” he said.
The source also said that after the raids his office is sending in internal reports to the headquarters. He also laughed over the news reports that raids are being conducted at Kodanadu Estate. “We never conducted any raids in Kodanadu Estate and media is reporting that raids are still continuing there,” he said.
Factfile:
1. The five day raids conducted by Income tax department against the close aides of jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala and ousted leader TTV Dinakaran ends.
2. The raids have till now brought to light concealment worth Rs 1,430 crore worth of evasion of taxes.
3. AIADMK Karnataka State secretary, Pugazhendi, a trusted aide of Sasikala, S Poongundram and Dr Sivakumar and Vivek appeared before Income Tax department.
4. Sasikala’s brother Divakaran has been summoned by Income Tax department.
5. Bank accounts have been frozen and shell companies identified
Not fact:
1. The claims that 1,800 personnel were deputed to conduct raids at 187 places. Only 600 to 650 personnel were deputed
2. No raids were conducted at Kodanadu Estate of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa
3. No tunnel at Dinakaran farm house.
CHENNAI:
The five-day long raids by Income tax department against the close aides of jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala and ousted leader TTV Dinakaran has brought to light the concealment of Rs 1,430 crore worth of evasion of taxes.
“This is only paltry going by the amount of incriminating documents that we have seized during the raids. This is nothing when taken into account the incriminating documents we have,” a senior Income Tax official told Express after the culmination of raids on Monday evening.
The official also did not rule out the possibility of Enforcement Directorate launching the probe under Prevention of Money Laundering Act as the raids also involved shell companies. “It would be done as per the law,” he said.
The official also disclosed that the people whose premises are raided are not opening up on queries pertaining to shell companies.
“We have our own ways to find out,” he said. The major focus of the raids have been Krishna Priya, the niece of Sasikala, who is believed to a major operator of shell companies. “Vivek Jayaraman, who is the nephew of Sasikala, was not involved with shell companies earlier. Now he is part of it,” the official said.
The officials said that the large number of bank accounts were frozen by the investigating officers. Refusing to give out a number, he said that most of the shell companies have multiple bank accounts and they may have been frozen. He also refused to divulge the number of shell companies that were brought to light. While reports claim it could be around 100, he refused to divulge any information.
He also ruled out the possibility of summoning TTV Dhinakaran for enquiry. To a query on the raids in his farm house, the official said that it belonged to his wife Anuradha. “It is up to the investigating officer. He may or may not have issued summons seeking her appearance,” he said.
The official also said that Divakaran, the brother of Sasikala, has been summoned for investigation. This comes as almost all premises belonging to associates of Divakaran were raided in Mannargudi.
Interestingly, on Monday three close aides of Sasikala and Divakaran along with Vivek were summoned by the Investigating officers of Income Tax. They include AIADMK Karnataka State secretary, Pugazhendi, a trusted aide of Sasikala, S Poongundram and Dr Sivakumar.
Pugazhendi arrived at the Income Tax office at 11.30am and was grilled for nearly two hours. Before leaving the premises, he told reporters thatnothing has been detected during the raids and he is cooperating with the officials. “I have been asked to appear again day after tomorrow,” he said.
The official also rejected the claims of news reports that 1,800 personnel were deputed to conduct raids at 187 places, the official said that only 600 to 650 personnel were deployed. “We usually send two officials along with two witnesses. It is true that raids took place in 187 places but only 600 to 650 personnel were involved in the raids and not 1,800 as claimed by a reputed daily,” he said.
The source also said that after the raids his office is sending in internal reports to the headquarters. He also laughed over the news reports that raids are being conducted at Kodanadu Estate. “We never conducted any raids in Kodanadu Estate and media is reporting that raids are still continuing there,” he said.
Factfile:
1. The five day raids conducted by Income tax department against the close aides of jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala and ousted leader TTV Dinakaran ends.
2. The raids have till now brought to light concealment worth Rs 1,430 crore worth of evasion of taxes.
3. AIADMK Karnataka State secretary, Pugazhendi, a trusted aide of Sasikala, S Poongundram and Dr Sivakumar and Vivek appeared before Income Tax department.
4. Sasikala’s brother Divakaran has been summoned by Income Tax department.
5. Bank accounts have been frozen and shell companies identified
Not fact:
1. The claims that 1,800 personnel were deputed to conduct raids at 187 places. Only 600 to 650 personnel were deputed
2. No raids were conducted at Kodanadu Estate of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa
3. No tunnel at Dinakaran farm house.
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