IT probe: TN Health Minister Vijayabaskar's spouse appears for questioning

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar's wife Ramya on Wednesday appeared before the Income Tax authorities in Chennai in connection with a probe over alleged tax evasion.

On April 7, 50 locations were searched by the tax authorities in Tamil Nadu including residence of Vijayabaskar in Chennai and Rs 5.5 crore seized from three of his 'associates'.

The minister's house was searched in his native Pudukottai district and the Central Public Works Department undertook a survey of a quarry run by his family in the district as part of the probe.

The tax authorities questioned Ramya on the basis of documents seized during the searches conducted nearly a month ago. She was either a "partner or proprietor" in some of the enterprises that were searched and she was questioned on the basis of documents and other evidence indicating tax evasion, IT department sources told PTI.

She has been asked to appear again next week, they said. After the IT department detected channeling of about Rs 89 crore for RK Nagar bypoll during searches at the premises of an accountant of the Minister, it sent a report to the EC and subsequently the poll authorities cancelled the April 12 bypoll.

The tax department had also questioned actor-politician R Sarath Kumar and Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University Vice-Chancellor S Geethalakshmi in connection with the probe.

Vijayabaskar's father and brother were also questioned as part of the probe in respect of an engineering college run by a trust involving the family members.