Vigilance raids at former DMK minister's premises

Vigilance officials on Thursday conducted raids at eight premises of former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam minister E V Velu in Chennai and Tiruvannamalai districts in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

"On specific information that Velu has accumulated in his name and in the name of his family members assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, a discreet inquiry was conducted. Based on the outcome of it, a case was registered under sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988," a Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption release said.

It was alleged that Velu had accumulated movable and immovable assets from 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2010 to the tune of Rs 26,30,787, when he was minister for food, civil supplies, consumer protection and price control in the previous DMK regime, it said.

In the present assembly, he represents Tiruvannamalai constituency. 

Since AIADMK came to power in May last year, residences of 13 former DMK ministers and an MLA had been raided by the DVAC, while several other party leaders faced police action on land grabbing charges or amassing assets disproportionate to known sources of income.