Parithis houses raided

CHENNAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption raided the residences of former Minister for Information and Publicity in the erstwhile DMK government E Parithi Ilamvazhuthi and his relatives here on Thursday.DVAC sources said a “discreet inquiry” was conducted by the agency on information that Parithi Ilamvazhuthi had accumulated assets in his name and that of his family members disproportionate to his known sources of income during the period from June 1, 2006 to March 31, 2010 to the tune of Rs 1,56,20,745 while he was the minister.Based on the outcome of the inquiry, a case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against the minister.On Thursday, five DVAC teams comprising around 10 police personnel each conducted searches at the residences of the former minister and his close relatives.A team, comprising three DSPs, including Ponnusamy and Thirunavukkarasu, swooped on the residence of Parithi Ilamvazhuthi on First Street, Kajura Garden, in Palavakkam at 7 am. The searches lasted till 5 pm, a DVAC officer told Express. “Some documents pertaining to income tax and accounts of the former minister were seized,” the officer said.Raids were also carried out at the residences of the former minister’s mother E Kannammal on V R Pillai Street, Munusamy Nagar, Triplicane, and his younger brother Ilambharathi alias Durai in Peter’s Colony, Royapettah.Similarly, searches were also carried out at the houses of his close relatives, Parithi Ilamsuruthi on Sabapathi Street in Ayanavaram and Elizabeth on Leath Castle North Street, Foreshore Estate.