DVAC searches 69 premises linked to ex-Minister
The Hindu
₹2.37 crore in cash, 1.13 kg gold jewellery seized from premises of Thangamani, his family members and acquaintances
Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) sleuths on Wednesday launched simultaneous searches at 69 residential and commercial premises belonging to former Electricity Minister P. Thangamani, his family and acquaintances in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The AIADMK’s Namakkal strongman, his son T. Dharanidharan and wife T. Santhi are suspected to have amassed assets to the tune of ₹4.85 crore, disproportionate to their known sources of income, during the check period from May 23, 2016 to March 31, 2020.
The DVAC said that during the searches, ₹2.37 crore in cash, 1.13 kg of gold jewellery and 40 kg of silver [articles] were seized. Mr. Thangamani and his son had also invested a huge amount of money in crypto assets, the officers alleged. Mobile phones, bank locker keys, computer hard disks and documents related to the case were seized, the agency said.
Vigilance sleuths reached the former Minister’s residence at Pallipalayam in Namakkal on Wednesday on the basis of a case registered by the DVAC, Namakkal, against the accused on December 14. Over 80 DVAC personnel began their searches at 7 a.m at Paari Street, Pannai Nagar, Pannai Street, Ganapathi Nagar, Muniyappan Kovil Street, Bhavani and Chithode. Sources said that while some residents were relatives of the former Minister, others were his associates.