CHENNAI: The Income Tax Investigation department seized Rs 13 crore from the premises of a politically well-connected godman running educational institutions in the state.
Sixteen IT teams raided the Adhiparasakthi group of educational institutions belonging to Bangaru Adigalar, his four residences and trust offices in Melmaruvathur, as part of a state-wide operation. The searches that started at 11.30 am on Friday lasted till 4 am on Saturday.
Cash totalling Rs 9 crore was seized from Adigalar's house alone. "We found the cash in his bedroom," said a top IT official, who was part of the team. A search of the trust offices yielded a further Rs 3 crore and Rs 40 lakh was seized from his son Anbazhagan's house. Gold jewellery was also found in the premises. He and his family were grilled for hours.
"The institutions in Melmaruvathur were under surveillance for the last two to three months," the official said. The raids were prompted by allegations of exorbitant capitation fees: "between Rs 20-30 lakh".
The sleuths secured receipts for the capitation fees and also found evidence of unaccounted expenditure. "The faculty were paid in cash, which was not being accounted," the IT official said, adding that the searches had been temporarily halted.
SBI sleuths also conducted searches in the offices and seized some documents.
At Melmaruvathur, temple inmates assaulted members of the media and destroyed their equipment. The Tamil Nadu Union of Journalists, Chennai Union of Journalists and Chennai Press Club condemned the attack.