Office of Radaan Mediaworks searched
The Income Tax (I-T) department knocked on the doors of Radaan Mediaworks India Limited, owned by actress R. Radikaa Sarathkumar, wife of actor-turned-politician and All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi leader R. Sarathkumar.
More than 10 I-T officials were deployed in the search operation.
“We searched her premises on the same money trail. The searches are still on. We are verifying some documents and papers there,” a senior I-T official, who wished anonymity, told The Hindu.
Listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Radaan is a leading production house in south India.
According to the latest annual report of the company, Ms. Radikaa is the chairperson and managing director and Mr. Sarathkumar is the director, operations.
“During the search at Mr. Sarathkumar’s place last Friday, we gathered some details. This search was a follow-up to that. We have some evidence that we gathered from WhatsApp messages and mobile phones,” the official said. The raids come a day after Mr. Sarathkumar was questioned by the taxmen following a series of raids that were conducted at his premises after the I-T department got information that he had received ₹7 crore from Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar to extend support to T.T.V. Dhinakaran, a candidate of the AIADMK faction led by V.K Sasikala, for the R.K. Nagar bypolls.
Minister quizzed
The I-T team who quizzed Mr. Vijaya Baskar said, “We asked him some preliminary questions regarding his family and property. For some specific questions, he has not given any answers and has in fact, requested more time.”
The officials said no summons were sent to seven ministers, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
According to I-T officials, the next in line to be questioned is MGR University vice-chancellor S. Geethalakshmi.
“Now that the court has quashed her petition asking for exemption, we will call her for questioning on Wednesday or Thursday,” said a senior official.
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