DMK petitions Election Commission against I-T raids

The DMK on Wednesday made a representation with chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo in this regard.

In the representation, DMK organising secretary R S Bharati said, “To help the candidates of the BJP and AIADMK, and to further the prospects of their election, it appears that some central agencies like the I-T department are being abused and misused to target and harass candidates belonging to the DMK and other alliance parties candidates.”

Referring to the raids conducted at Kathir Anand’s place, Bharati said, “There was no need to raid the same place twice within a short span of 24 hours which means that the department has played into the hands of the ruling BJP to help their combine in the elections.” “Our party candidate Kathir Anand was detained for three days even though its illegal to detain anyone during a search action under section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961,” he said.

“We are not against the lawful exercise of their statutory powers but the manner in which the searches are conducted in blatant violation of the Income Tax Act, Rules and Manual shows that the searches are colourable exercise of power and politically motivated,” he added, Claiming that huge cash is said to be found in premises of Chief Minister’s K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam associates places and all sitting AIADMK ministers, AIADMK district secretaries and MLA’s, the DMK petition said, adding that they have submitted 12 complaints against the ruling party since the announcement of the elections but no action has been initiated so far.

“It is a silent spectator despite having received information. The DG investigation wing of IT department is probably acting under the dictates of certain power centres. It has come to our knowledge that the AIADMK, BJP, DMDK, PMK and their allied party candidates are indulging in huge money distribution and IT department and Election Commission are silent spectators for the same,” the DMK said, also blaming the ECI for inaction. The party also urged ECI also to call for an explanation from I-T Department as to how they can detain the candidates illegally for such a long time prior to elections without any authority and in violation of IT Act. It also expressed shock at election observer Ujwal Kumar participating in the raid in violation of its compendium of instructions.

Asked if polls in Vellore could be countermanded, Bharati who is also a Rajya Sabha MP said the CEO has given a “satisfactory reply” to their request to honour its submission made before the Supreme Court that by polls for four assembly constituencies along with Lok Sabha polls n April 18. “We are confident the by polls would be held along with the LS polls,” he added.