IT officials seize Rs 32 crore from TN poultry firm
Coimbatore: In the biggest cash seizure ever in Tamil Nadu, the Income Tax Department is believed to have seized unaccounted money worth Rs 32 crore from the hatchery of a private poultry farm in Pollachi in Coimbatore district in a search operation that began late night. . on Monday. Although Election Commission sources have denied any election link to the money seizure, a full investigation will be conducted separately, he said.
According to sources, a team of 10 IT officials, acting on a tip-off, visited the administrative office of MBS Hatcheries located at Water Tank Street, Alagappa Layout, Venkatesh Colony, Pollachi city on Monday morning.
Simultaneously, another team visited and searched the firm’s fodder production unit at Kollupalayam Road near Anjavelampatti in Pollachi. The search was still going on till 8 pm on Tuesday night. After confirming the unaccounted cash, Income Tax officials on Monday called staff from the State Bank of India, Pollachi branch to count the money.
The raid was an independent action by the Income Tax Department: Officials
The Income Tax Department team also sought police protection from Pollachi DSP V Jayachandran and armed police personnel were deployed to prevent outsiders from entering the firm’s offices.
Sources said Income Tax Department teams kept counting cash and checking documents in the office throughout the night.
Sources said that on Tuesday afternoon, he transferred the cash to SBI Bank and from there it was transferred to his currency chest.
The company, which is suspected to be owned by brothers Arul Murugu and Saravana Murugu from Pollachi, has branches across the state.
According to sources, Coimbatore district election officials are planning to investigate the matter to find out whether the money was brought to the district to be distributed to voters.
However, a senior election official said it was an independent operation of the Income Tax Department.
“Since the Model Code of Conduct is in force, the Income Tax Department should inform the Election Commission of India and submit a report on the seizure of funds. Initial investigation has revealed that it has nothing to do with the elections. But the ECI will conduct a separate investigation into the seizures,” the official said.
IT seizes Rs 4 crore in Tiruchi
ED teams searched 25 places in drug case
The ED on Tuesday, under the protection of central paramilitary forces, conducted searches at over 25 locations in Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchi as part of its money laundering probe against former DMK functionary Jafar Sadiq linked to drug trafficking, sources said.
The ED also searched film director Ameer’s properties in Santhome and Purusaivalakam. Meanwhile, sources said the Income Tax Department has seized unaccounted cash worth about Rs 3.79 crore in recent search operations at several places linked to PWD contractors in Tiruchi district.
