Sasikala's nephew says no political motive in the IT raids

Jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala's nephew and Jaya TV MD Vivek Jayaraman on Tuesday refuted allegations that Income Tax searches on his premises and other connected to his families that had lasted for five days had been carried out with a political motive.

Jaya TV office was one among the 187 premises searched by the I-T officials in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and New Delhi for five successive days till Monday as part of its "operation clean money".

I-T officials said that they had detected undisclosed investment of Rs 1,450 crore from 10 assesses groups which were raided including those linked to Sasikala's kin and their associates.

"The officials queried about the documents of the companies —Jaya TV and Jazz Cinema, and I offered explanation in detail. Besides, they questioned about the jewels given to my wife during our wedding. I will submit the relevant accounts in the next two-three days," Vviek told reporters here.

When asked if the raids were politically motivated, Jayaraman said "it doesn't seem so". "They (taxmen) have done their duty and we are answerable (to them). Every citizen of the country has to pay income tax.. I am clear about that," he said. It was the duty of a citizen to pay taxes and anyone found violating the law was liable to face action, Jayaraman said.