Chennai: As many as 24 premises of different finance companies allegedly owned by friends of former minister and MLA V. Senthil Balaji was searched and surveyed in Karur by income tax investigators on Thursday.
Income tax sources said that searches were carried out in 9 premises while surveys were done in 15 places.
Most of the premises raided were the residence and office of a contractor, considered a close associate of Balaji, and six other places of his friends and relatives in Thanthonri Malai, Rayanur, Ramakrishna Nagar and Kamaraj Nagar, official sources said.
The firms, which were under the scanner of income tax department mainly involved in money lending at high interest besides those executes textile and civil contracts and also with an interest in export and import.
Senthil Balaji is among the 18 AIADMK MLAs, loyal to sidelined leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who were disqualified by the Tamil Nadu assembly speaker recently.
The raids come against the backdrop of allegations against Balaji that he defrauded several persons to the tune of about Rs 4 crore by promising them jobs in the transport department when he was transport minister.
The Chennai Central Crime branch police are investigating the complaints from the duped job aspirants. Balaji has moved the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the case.
