CHENNAI/PUDUCHERRY: A special Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) team raided Barnas International Private Ltd at Vepery in Chennai, a company selling surveillance equipment owned by the son of former Tamil Nadu governor Surjit Singh Barnala. A senior DVAC officer said they also suspect the alleged involvement of former governor’s son, Jasjit Singh Barnala, and his partner Najimudeen, a close friend of former education minister K Ponmudy, in some of the corruption cases. However, he clarified that only a thorough investigation would shed light on these allegations.Meanwhile, special teams conducted raids at three properties owned by Ponmudy’s wife Visalakshi in Cuddalore and Chennai. At Cuddalore, a team raided a private office of Visalakshi, while another team raided a house owned by her at Sri Nagar Colony, Saidapet, and at Ever Smile Enterprises.In Chennai, Ramaniyam Towers on Greenways Road was raided. The teams also conducted raids at Visal Expo owned by Visalakshi on the same premises on Greenways Road. Another team conducted raids at Surya Educational Trust and a private company called Kayal Ponni & Co owned by Ponmudy’s sons at Ramaniyam Towers.The DVAC officials said they seized documents from a house owned by Ponmudy and his two brothers at Villuppuram and private clinics owned by his brother at Puducherry. A special team also conducted raids at the house and two medical establishments — KM Multi Speciality Hospital and KM Nursing Home — run by the former minister’s in-laws in K K Nagar in the city.In Puducherry, the DVAC officials conducted raids in Ponmudy’s brother’s residence at Anna Nagar. Eight officials of the DVAC conducted searches on the premises of Rajasigamany, a dentist with the Annamalai University Dental College.The raids began as early as 6.45 am and ended around 1.05 pm. DVAC officials also conducted raids at the residences of Ponmudy and his relatives at Villupuram.A 10-member team headed by DSP Ambigapathi entered Ponmudy’s house on Thirupananthazvar Street around 7 am and the raid went on till about 1.30 pm.Simultaneously, raids were carried out at the residence of chairman of the Siga Educational Trust, Manivannan.Ponmudy had been arrested and jailed in a land grab case related to this educational institution.Ponmudy’s motherin- law is also a trustee of Siga Educational Trust.Ponmudy’s brother Nadanasigamani’s house and Maragatham Hospital, which belongs to a family member of the former minister, also came under the DVAC net on Tuesday.The officials also conducted raids on Ponmudy’s close aide and contractor Thirisangu’s premises.DVAC officials also raided residences of Ponmudy’s relative in Puducherry and a Hero Honda showroom at Cuddalore.Sources said that totally 17 documents had been collected by the officials from Ponmudy’s residence during the raid.
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