Tamil Nadu: DMK Members Manhandled Officials, Vandalised Vehicles Of Income Tax Department Says Annamalai As Raids Underway In Multiple Locations Connected To Minister Senthil Balaji

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai has said that members of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have manhandled Income Tax (IT) officers and damaged their cars when they came to conduct searches at premises connected to Minister for Excise, Electricity and Prohibition, V Senthil Balaji.

Annamalai wrote on Twitter, "IT officials manhandled, vehicles vandalised by DMK goons in support of Cash for Job Scam Minister Senthil Balaji & his brother. TN CM Thiru @mkstalin should instruct his partymen to behave responsibly & remind them that we don't live in the 60s."

The raids which started early this morning are underway in over 40 locations across the state.

According to political commentator Savukku Shankar, IT officers have now requested for security from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The raid comes around a month after the IT department raid on G-Square, a real estate firm, which is alleged to be linked to the first-family of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and raids by the Enforcement Directorate(ED) regarding alleged corruption by TANGEDCO officials.

It is alleged that TASMAC stores charge Rs 10 extra while selling liquor bottles in order to pay the 'Karur team.' The Karur team is allegedly connected to Balaji.

Annamalai had recently demanded the removal of Balaji from the Cabinet due to the hooch tragedies in Villupuram and Chengalpattu and the order of the Supreme Court to the Crime Branch of the police and the ED to resume their investigations against him.

Annamalai said that if Balaji remains in the Cabinet, a fair investigation against him would not be possible.