I-T raid at Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary's residence in Chennai

New Delhi: As part of its nation-wide crackdown on black money, Income Tax department on Wednesday conducted raid at Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao's residence in Anna Nagar, Chennai.

According to reports, I-T officials are conducting search and survey operation on 13 premises belonging to Rao and his relatives and associates in Chennai, Bangalore and Chittoor. The Chief Secretary was under the I-T scanner for quite some time. I-T officials are questioning Rao since morning 5:30 am.

The raids are reportedly being conducted in connection with his alleged links with sand mining baron J Shekar Reddy and others.

Earlier this month, the tax department had seized 177 kg of gold, cash worth Rs 34 crore in the new Rs 2000 denomination and Rs 96 crore in demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from three businessmen — J. Shekhar Reddy, Srinivasalu and Prem.

Both CBI and Enforcement Directorate have registered cases against Shekhar Reddy and others for allegedly money laundering black money.

In a major shuffle after the re-election of AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, Rao was appointed Chief Secretary in June this year. Rao, 1985 batch IAS officer, also holds additional charge of Vigilance Commissioner and Commissioner for Administrative reforms.