Ex-minister Ramachandrans properties searched

MADURAI/CHENNAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption on Wednesday conducted raids on nine properties of former DMK Minister K K S S R Ramachandran and his relatives at Virudhunagar and Chennai.DVAC teams raided residences and business establishments (seven in Virudhunagar and two in Chennai) of Ramachandran, his sons and two relatives. The former minister was present at his house in Virudhunagar during the search there.Based on specific information that Ramachandran and his family members had accumulated wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income, when he served as the State’s Minister for Health and thereafter as Minister for Backward Classes between 2006 and 2011, the Virudhunagar wing of DVAC held a preliminary inquiry and registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act 2008. In this connection, a team headed DSP Ambikabathy of DVAC, Tiruchy division raided Ramachandran’s house at 7 am and checked various documents. Special teams also searched Ramachandran’s other properties, including spinning mills in Virudhunagar and Aruppukottai and a cinema hall in Virudhunagar. Houses of his second son Ramesh at Aruppukottai and his cousin Subbaraj at Virudhunagar were also searched. “We have seized incriminating documents from Ramachandran’s and his relatives houses,” a senior officer of DVAC said.In Chennai, a team led by DSP Murali raided hou­ses of Ramachandran’­s eldest son Narayanan in T Nagar and son-in-law Dr Arun Kum­ar in Kotturpu­ram. Sources said the raids lasted till 1 pm.