KARUR: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday raided 25 locations linked to key associates of Electricity and Prohibition Minister Senthil Balaji, as well as offices of state-owned Tasmac, its head office in Chennai and offices of multiple distilleries that supply liquor to it, according to sources.
The searches were conducted in Chennai, Karur and other locations in the state, sources said. The corporate offices of liquor companies SNJ, KALS, MGM and Accord in Chennai and their distilleries were searched by officials of the agency. Sleuths also raided Tasmac’s head office in Egmore, they added. Accord is owned by DMK Lok Sabha MP from Arakkonam, S Jagathrakshakan.
Sources further said the raids were conducted to recover incriminating material relating to a fresh money laundering case registered by ED against malpractices in sale of alcohol by the companies to Tasmac and the role played by middlemen in the same. Places linked to associates of Senthil Balaji, including former Tangedco financial controller Kasi, were also searched in Chennai, they added.
In Karur, officials searched offices of M C Shankar Anand, a government contractor and close aide of Senthil Balaji.
Meanwhile, two more ED teams searched the premises of Subramani, who runs Kongu Restaurant in Rayanur, and Sakthivel, proprietor of Sakthi Restaurant in Kothai Nagar, Karur. Both are said to be friends of the minister. Searches have been ongoing at all three locations since 9 am.
Another team reached the house of Shankar Anand’s parents located in Mayanur, on the outskirts of the district. However, they could not conduct a search as nobody was home at the time, according to sources.
Senthil Balaji is already facing trial in a ‘cash for jobs’ scam, being investigated by the Greater Chennai Police and ED, from his time as transport minister during the 2011-2015 AIADMK rule. He was arrested by ED in June 2023 and released only in September 2024.