Tax men seize £13.7 mn in TN 10 days ahead of polls

CHENNAI: Income Tax officials have seized Rs 137 Crore unaccounted cash over the last ten days ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in Tamil Nadu. The state leads in tems of the single largest seizure of cash followed by Andhra Pradesh with Rs 95.7 Crore. Last week, Rs 11.53 Crore unaccounted cash was seized from a cement warehouse allegedly belonging to an associate of a DMK leader in Vellore, TN. The DMK's candidate Kathir Anand is under the scanner. Officials suspect the cash was used to ensure his victory in polls. Election officials seized Rs 1.99 Crore from DMK ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) also in Perambalur district. The DMK says these are politically motivated allegations. DMK spokesperson A Saravanan said, “The Income Tax department is colluding with the BJP and AIADMKA in Tamil Nadu. It is being projected as though the opposition parties are trying to distribute cash when the truth is other way around. Today we've registered a complaint before the Election Commission that cash is transported through police vehicles.”