ED Unleashes Raids: Tamil Nadu Minister I. Periyasamy Under Scanner in Explosive Money Laundering Probe

In a significant development that has sent ripples across Tamil Nadu's political landscape, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched extensive search operations on properties linked to state Minister I. Periyasamy and his family. The high-stakes raids are part of an ongoing money laundering investigation, directly connected to a controversial land allotment scam that dates back to 2008.

Sources close to the probe reveal that ED sleuths descended upon multiple locations in Chennai and Dindigul, including premises associated with Minister Periyasamy and his son, P.

Senkuttuvan. The central agency's actions are a follow-up to a case initially registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) concerning alleged irregularities during Periyasamy's tenure as the Housing Minister in the DMK government between 2006 and 2011.

The core of the allegations revolves around the purported illegal allocation of housing plots from the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) in prime areas to individuals who were reportedly ineligible.

It is alleged that these allotments were made outside the stipulated norms, raising serious questions about transparency and due process. The DVAC's probe had specifically highlighted these discrepancies, paving the way for the ED to initiate a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED's mandate in this investigation is to trace the money trail, identify assets acquired through the alleged proceeds of crime, and understand the intricate network involved in the purported illicit transactions.

The agency is meticulously examining financial documents, property records, and other evidence to establish the links between the alleged land scam and any subsequent money laundering activities.

These raids underscore the ED's intensified focus on cases involving high-profile political figures across various states.

The move against Minister Periyasamy comes amidst a series of similar actions by central agencies against other prominent ministers in Tamil Nadu, signaling a broader crackdown on alleged financial irregularities and corruption. The outcome of this exhaustive investigation could have profound implications for the political dynamics of the state, as the ED continues its rigorous pursuit of justice and accountability.