Chennai IT sleuths continue raiding Sasikala's properties; Likely to freeze 150 bank accounts
- Conducting the raids under the name of ‘Operation Clean Money’, the sleuths have seized several incriminating documents over the past 3 days.
- A detailed report of the same is being sent to the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
- V K Sasikala and her family have evaded taxes worth Rs 1,000 crore.
FollowIt is the third day since the Income Tax sleuths of Tamil Nadu have raided the various properties of V K Sasikala, especially the Mannargudi clan. Conducting the raids under the name of ‘Operation Clean Money’, the sleuths have seized several incriminating documents over the past 3 days and a detailed report of the same is being sent to the Central Board of Direct Taxes.Â
According to sources, speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, officials have found that V K Sasikala and her family have evaded taxes worth Rs 1,000 crore. However, Saturday's raids were focussed on the assets of Vivek Jayaraman, Sasikala’s nephew, who heads Jaya TV and also owns Jazz Cinemas, which was bought by the group from Sathyam Cinemas 3 years ago. It was then reported that the theaters were taken over by the group by using coercive methods.
It is also being said that the much talked about 'business deal' between Satyam Cinemas group and Sasikala's clan is also dubious and attracts the IT's attention. Apart from papers, sleuths also uncovered precious stones and cash from unused hostel rooms in Sengamala Thayaar Educational Trust Women’s College. Incidentally, the college is owned by V Divaharanat Sundarakottai in Mannargudi.
While these are just a few cases, the IT is focussing on, it is also said that the clan can be booked for land grabbing too. Sources said, "Documents of over 20 shell companies have been unearthed. Cash and jewels worth a few crores have been seized too." According to a report by the Deccan Chronicle, the department is also investigating the routing of the funds by shell companies outside the country post demonetisation.
Till now, the IT sleuths have raided a total of 187 locations across the state. These include the residences of Sasikala family members, Kodanad tea estate, Jazz Cinemas, Midas Distilleries, Jaya TV, Namadhu MGR newspaper and several other premises in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. It is said that more than 150 bank accounts are likely to be frozen at the end of the operation.
