Vigilance raids on former AIADMK ministers' houses

Simultaneous raids are being conducted at the residences and business establishments of former AIADMK ministers Nainar Nagendiran and S M Velusamy by the state Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption from early on Friday morning.

Nagendiran's residence and business interests in Tirunelveli, Velusamy's residence in Coimbatore, their houses in Chennai and the property owned by their acquaintances were subjected to raids, DVAC sources said in Chennai.

In Chennai alone, four places of Nagendiran's interest in Abiramapuram, Raja Annamalaipuram, Purasawakkam and Secretariat Colony were raided, DVAC sources said.

The raids, which began at 7 am, would go on throughout the day, they added.

In Coimbatore, the raids were carried out at the residences of Velusamy.

One batch of the DVAC slueths started the raids at the house in Gandhimanagar, while another batch carried out raids at the house in Chengathurai near Sulur, about 20 km from Chennai, DVAC sources said.

The DVAC team, comprised members from Chennai and Coimbatore. However, the sources refused to divulge details of the raids.

Velusamy had held various portfolios like Commercial tax, Housing and Backward classes in the AIADMK ministry for five years.