<p>Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister I Periyasamy on Saturday joined the list of high-profile DMK leaders to come under the radar of Central agencies with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) swooping down on premises connected to him and his MLA son in Chennai and Dindigul. </p> <p>High drama was witnessed at the MLA quarters in the Government Estate when ED officials apparently tried to break open the apartment occupied by I P Senthilkumar, Periyasamy’s son and a legislator. Entry at the State Secretariat was also restricted as speculation mounted that ED officials would come there to search at Periyasamy’s chamber. </p> <p>The searches were conducted at the minister’s official residence in Greenways Road in Chennai, and premises owned by him in Durairaj Nagar, and Vallalar Nagar in Dindigul city, and Seelapadi village in the district.</p> .ED raids at Tamil Nadu min attempt to divert attention from 'vote chori,' party won't be cowed down: DMK.<p>Both Periyasamy and his son Senthilkumar are powerful leaders of the DMK in Dindigul district. Sources said the searches were in connection with the disproportionate assets (DA) case filed by the DVAC against Periyasamy and his family members on charges of amassing wealth during 2006-2011 when he was a minister in then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s cabinet.</p> <p>Though the trial court acquitted them, Justice P Velmurugan of the Madras High Court in April set aside the acquittal order and ordered a fresh trial. </p> <p>Reacting to the raids, DMK Organising Secretary R S Bharathi said the raids are an attempt to divert public attention from "vote chori" allegations levelled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against the BJP and Election Commission. </p> <p>Periyasamy is the latest among the DMK seniors to be raided by the ED – Public Works Department Minister E V Velu and Municipal Administration K N Nehru are already under the scanner of IT and ED respectively. V Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy, who were removed from the cabinet in April, are also under the radar of the ED. </p>
<p>Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister I Periyasamy on Saturday joined the list of high-profile DMK leaders to come under the radar of Central agencies with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) swooping down on premises connected to him and his MLA son in Chennai and Dindigul. </p> <p>High drama was witnessed at the MLA quarters in the Government Estate when ED officials apparently tried to break open the apartment occupied by I P Senthilkumar, Periyasamy’s son and a legislator. Entry at the State Secretariat was also restricted as speculation mounted that ED officials would come there to search at Periyasamy’s chamber. </p> <p>The searches were conducted at the minister’s official residence in Greenways Road in Chennai, and premises owned by him in Durairaj Nagar, and Vallalar Nagar in Dindigul city, and Seelapadi village in the district.</p> .ED raids at Tamil Nadu min attempt to divert attention from 'vote chori,' party won't be cowed down: DMK.<p>Both Periyasamy and his son Senthilkumar are powerful leaders of the DMK in Dindigul district. Sources said the searches were in connection with the disproportionate assets (DA) case filed by the DVAC against Periyasamy and his family members on charges of amassing wealth during 2006-2011 when he was a minister in then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s cabinet.</p> <p>Though the trial court acquitted them, Justice P Velmurugan of the Madras High Court in April set aside the acquittal order and ordered a fresh trial. </p> <p>Reacting to the raids, DMK Organising Secretary R S Bharathi said the raids are an attempt to divert public attention from "vote chori" allegations levelled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against the BJP and Election Commission. </p> <p>Periyasamy is the latest among the DMK seniors to be raided by the ED – Public Works Department Minister E V Velu and Municipal Administration K N Nehru are already under the scanner of IT and ED respectively. V Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy, who were removed from the cabinet in April, are also under the radar of the ED. </p>