IT And EC Officials Search Kanimozhi’s Residence Just Before Polls

Chennai: Ahead of the April 18 Lok Sabha polls, Income Tax officials and the Election Commission's static surveillance team on Tuesday carried out a joint searches on Tuesday,at the residence of DMK leader K Kanimozhi at Thoothukodi in South Tamil Nadu from where she is contesting.

Official sources indicated that the searches were held following "some inputs," but they did not elaborate. Income Tax officials were also "assisting," the local poll officials and the outcome of the searches were not known immediately.

Following information about the searches, a large number of DMK workers gathered in front of Kanimozhi's house expressing solidarity.

Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha member, is contesting against the BJP's state unit chief Tamilisai Soundararajan in the Thootukodi Lok Sabha constituency.

DMK president M K Stalin in a statement at Chennai said the raids were an outcome of "fear of a damning defeat," for BJP's candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan in Tuticorin who is also the BJP's State unit president.

The DMK chief said his party would work towards ushering in reforms in the appointments of Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioners and State Chief Electoral Officer."If needed, we will not hesitate to approach the Supreme Court," he said.

"It is normal verification procedure," the IT official said. Polling to all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu was slated for April 18 in the second stage of the Lok Sabha polls. (With inputs from PTI and IANS)

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