Chennai: I-T dept questions Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar, actor Sarath Kumar

Chennai: Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar and film star-politician Sarath Kumar appeared before the Income Tax department authorities on Monday to record their statements on the seizure of documents from their house during the raids last week.

Mr Vijayabaskar was grilled by I-T authorities for more than four hours and has been asked to appear before them again, sources said. After the questioning, the Minister told reporters that he answered all the questions posed by I-T investigators and would extend all cooperation to them. Mr Sarath Kumar, whose premises were also searched, was questioned for over eight hours at the I-T office after which he left.

While another AIADMK leader Chitalapakkam Rajendran also appeared before authorities, vice chancellor of Tamil Nadu MGR Medical University Geethalakshmi moved the Madras High Court seeking annulment of the Income Tax Department’s summons to her over a tax evasion probe.

The searches at the premises of an associate of Vijayabhaskar had allegedly revealed routing of Rs 89 crore for distribution to voters in R K Nagar Assembly constituency, where a bypoll was scheduled for April 12.

The department had on Sunday issued notices to Mr Vijayabhaskar, Mr Sarath Kumar and Ms Geethalakshmi asking them to appear before its authorities on Monday.

Nearly 150 sleuths of the IT department along with security personnel had conducted searches at over 30 locations across the state belonging to the official residence and properties owned by the three. Meanwhile, I-T officials raided a lodge from where money was allegedly distributed to voters in George Town.