IT Authorities Raid DMK MP Jagathrakshakan; 'Vendetta Politics,' Says CM Stalin

Chennai: Income Tax officials have conducted raids on 40 premises of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) member of parliament K. T. Jagathrakshakan on the charge of tax evasion by educational institutions run by him.

Jagathrakshakan at the time of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections declared Rs 200 crore as his total assets in his and his wife’s names. The raids will also show if he has amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. Such evidence, if any, will be shared with other investigating agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The raids, which began on Thursday, October 5, continued on Friday, October 6.

Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin, who is part of the INDIA alliance, has promptly denounced the raids against Jagathrakshkan as "vendetta politics" against the opposition being pursued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government.

Taking to X (previously Twitter), Stalin said, "Arresting AAP  MP Sanjay Singh and raiding DMK MP Jagathrakshakan's homes are clear examples of misuse of independent investigating agencies against INDIA bloc leaders for political ends. This deliberate persecution of opposition leaders shows the Union Government’s vindictive politics knows no bounds."

The Union BJP Government's vindictive politics knows no bounds!

Arresting AAP MP Sanjay Singh and raiding DMK MP Jagathrakshakan's home are clear examples of their misuse of independent investigating agencies for political ends against INDIA bloc leaders.

This deliberate… https://t.co/xZYkWDA7CI

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 5, 2023

The reaction from Stalin came even as the tax men raided the MP’s home in Adyar in Chennai and other premises across Tamil Nadu and educational institutions run by him.

The IT officials also raided Sri Lakshamana Institute of Medical Sciences in Agaram in neighbouring Union territory of Puducherry. Jagathrakshakan represents the Arakkonam Lok Sabha constituency.

Income tax officials continued searches in the house and business premises of DMK MP Jagathrakshakan for the second day today, Friday, October 6. The raid was carried out by a second team of officials, which searched the MP's house in Adyar in Chennai. Television channels showed an unruffled MP welcoming the raiding party. They also searched a brewery and hotels owned by Jagathrakshakan in Kancheepuram, 70 kilometres from Chennai.

The raid also covered relatives of the MP. Taxmen said they had seized cash and documents during the raids in over 40 locations and details of seizures would be disclosed at the end of the searches.

Corruption charges against other DMK leaders

Jagathrakshakan is the second top DMK leader to face the heat of the central probe agencies. In June, the Enforcement Directorate had arrested Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader Senthil Balaji.

In an act of defiance, Stalin refused to drop Balaji from the Cabinet, despite a hastily issued dismissal order by governor R.N. Ravi, which he withdrew later. Ravi had said he had been advised by Union home minister Amit Shah to withdraw the order.

V. Senthil Balaji.

In fact, Stalin himself had levelled corruption charges against Senthil Balaji when he was a minister in the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government. However, not only had Stalin inducted him into his party but also made him a minister, for he is seen as a chief minister's close aide.

Both Jagatrathrakshakan and Senthil Balaji walked over to DMK from AIADMK following the demise of former chief minister and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa in December 2016.

Vigilance cases against long-time DMK ministers like K. Ponmudi, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu, registered during the previous AIADMK regime between 2016-21, were withdrawn by Stalin after he came to power. The cases were in connection with alleged corruption during their tenure as ministers in the AIADMK between 2006-11.

So far, this has been the pattern in Tamil Nadu, with political leaders alternating between the DMK and AIADMK. The only top leader to have ever been convicted in a corruption case is AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa. The case against her was initiated by M. Karunanidhi in 1996 during his chief ministership. After 18 years, it ended in her conviction by a special court in Bengaluru.

The Supreme Court upheld the trial court order against Jayalalithaa. She passed away in December 2016. The apex court passed its judgment in March 2017, which held her guilty of amassing wealth by illegal means, to the tune of Rs 56 crore. Jayalalithaa's aides, Sasikala and three others, served a sentence and walked out of jail. However, they are barred from running for public office for a period of six years.

The Modi government has introduced a new dimension in Dravidian politics by using Central agencies like the ED and IT against state ministers. Many believe he is following the path trodden by former prime minister Indira Gandhi, who had also slapped corruption cases against DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi only to withdraw them in return for support.

There has been a perception that Modi is also using the Central agencies to pressure the opposition parties, including those in Tamil Nadu, into submission. Corruption is the main plank he is using in every state in his battle of perception.

However, the investigations launched by Central agencies like the ED and the IT against the DMK Ministers are yet to reach trial stage,

Stalin's allegations that the raids against DMK leaders are vindictive, however, lacks moral appeal as he himself has withdrawn cases registered by the previous AIADMK regime against three DMK ministers, M. Ponmudi, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, and Thangam Thennarasu.

In an unprecedented move, Madras high court judge M. Anand Venkatesh has taken suo motu cognisance of the discharge of these ministers from corruption cases, calling it a "miscarriage of justice". "Something is rotten..," said Justice Venkatesh who is the portfolio judge for special courts dealing with corruption and other cases against MPs and MLAs.

DMK’s organising secretary and legal wing in-charge R.S. Bharathi has said the judge’s selective approach smacks of discrimination. The judge has used his discretionary power in a malafide manner, Bharathi has said.

The judge has however refused to take contempt action but said those who are not able to tolerate criticism are unfit to hold public office.

This is the same charge Stalin and other opposition leaders are now leveling against Modi as such political optics come in the backdrop of Modi’s campaign that the Dravidian model is all about dynasty and corruption.

The opposition says this has been Modi’s narrative against the opposition, be it Kashmir, Maharashtra, West Bengal, or Tamil Nadu. The opposition has said the BJP is a massive "washing machine". Once the tainted politician goes through the wringer, he will come out sparkling white. For instance, Ajay Pawar was accused of serious corruption before joining the BJP-alliance government in Maharashtra. However, Ajay Pawar is now a minister in the government led by Ekanth Shinde, of which BJP is part.

Such being the case, raids will be seen as a means to poach tainted DMK ministers by the BJP ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections.

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