ED conducts searches in DMK MP Kathir Anand’s house, other places in Vellore

Enforcement Directorate conducts searches in Vellore, including DMK MP's house, related to cash-for-votes charge during 2019 elections.

Sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting searches in at least five places, including an engineering college and the house of DMK MP D.M. Kathir Anand, in Vellore on Friday (January 3, 2025).

Sources said that the searches began around 7.30 a.m, in these locations, primarily in Katpadi at the residence of Mr. Anand and his father Mr. Durai Murugan, who is Water Resources Minister and the general secretary of the ruling DMK.

Some of the other locations where raids are on include Kingston Engineering College at Christianpet, a border village on T.N - A.P near Katpadi, another house of Mr. Anand in Gandhi Nagar in Katpadi and the house of DMK functionary ‘Pooncholai’ Srinivasan, who is the organiser of the Vellore District Sports Development wing for the DMK, in Pallikuppam village near Katpadi. Searches are also being conducted at houses and thr godown of Srinivasan’s relative near Katpadi. Armed police personnel from CRPF have been deployed at these places to prevent any untoward incidents.

Sources said that the Friday’s searches were related to a case filed against Mr. Anand by the Income Tax (IT) department on the cash-for-votes charge during 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The case relates to the officials of the Income Tax, who conducted raids on the houses of DMK leader Pooncholai Srinivasan and his cousin Damodharan, who were said to be close associates of the Vellore MP, in April 2019. It led to the seizure of Rs 10.48 crore from Mr. Damodharan’s place. The money was reportedly meant for distribution to voters, it had been charged. 

Subsequently, the then election accounts officer registered a case against all three of them with the Katpadi police. Trial of the case is being held at Judicial Magistrate Court - I at the Combined Court Complex in Vellore.