IT raids Jaya TV office, Sasikala's close aides in TN

Chennai: Income Tax Sleuths raided premises of Tamil television channel, Jaya TV Office and Sasikala aids across the state.

Raids are being taking place since this morning at multiple locations across Tamil Nadu, mainly connected to the family of VK Sasikala.

“The IT raids against 10 groups (including Jaya TV) are on at 187 locations in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi,” said a senior official.

Around a dozen officials entered the office of the Tamil channel around 6 am. News agency PTI reports that the searches follow allegations of shell companies, dubious investments, fund flow and fudging of accounts by Jaya TV, started by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and currently controlled by the family of Sasikala, who was her closest aide.

The searches at the TV channel’s accounts branch here is part of ‘Operation Clean Money’, sources said.

Searches also cover the premises of Midas Distilleries and Jazz Cinemas, they said.

The two entities are perceived to be associated with some of those linked to Jaya TV.