Income Tax department raids Jaya TV office and Dr. Namadhu MGR premises over reports of tax evasion

The Income Tax department on Thursday morning raided the office of Jaya TV in Chennai over alleged reports of tax evasion. The Tamil channel is controlled by AIADMK and arrested party leader VK Sasikala, while it was founded by late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

As per reports, the raids which began at 6:30 A.M. in the morning are still ongoing. The channel is now being controlled by jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala’s family members, led by her nephew Vivek Jayaraman. 

Sources claim that the searches were part of 'Operation Clean Money'. The tax allegation covers aspects like shell companies, dubious investments, fund flow and fudging of accounts.

#TamilNadu: Income Tax department conducts raid at Jaya TV and Dr Namadhu MGR (Tamil newspaper) premises in Chennai, in a case of alleged tax evasion pic.twitter.com/LkQSVz4NWN

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

A senior IT official claimed that raids are being conducted at nine more other firms at various places in Tamil Nadu and across India.

Searches also covered the premises of Midas Distilleries and Jazz Cinemas, they said. The two entities are perceived to be associated with some of those linked to Jaya TV.

#TamilNadu : Income Tax raids continue at Jaya TV office in #Chennai's Ekkaduthangal in a case of alleged tax evasion pic.twitter.com/IETuuTuqxH

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017