Chennai, Mar 15 : Officials of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) today conducted raids the residential and business premises of senior AIADMK leader and former Minister S P Velumani for allegedly amassing wealth to the tune of Rs 58.23 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income during the period 2016-21. The raids, which began today morning, has been going on simultaneously in 58 locations, spread over six districts at Mr Velumani’s residence and his family members and also in one place in Kerala. The raids are being held in 41 locations in Coimbatore, including the residence of Velumani, who had served as Minister of M cipal Administration and Rural Development during the 2016-21 AIADMK regime, at Sugunapuram. Other locations searched in the State include eight in Chennai, four in Salem, two in Tirupattur, one each in Namakkal, Krishnagiri and one location outside the State. The Opposition AIADMK condemned the raids, being held for the second time in the last eight months (earlier raids in August 2021) and termed it as politically motivated. A large number of AIADMK cadres assembled in front of Velumani’s house and shouted slogans denouncing the DMK government for conducting searches out of political vendetta. The raids followed registration of a fresh case against Velumani, who is now a sitting MLA from Thondamuthur Assembly constituency, his brother S.P. Anbarasan and 11 others, including three companies linked to them. The FIR filed by the DVAC said Velumani, in his name and in the names of his wife, son, daughter, relatives and associates, intentionally amassed Rs 58,23,97,052, which is disproportionate to known sources of income. The DVAC said that the assets amassed by the former Minister was 3928 per cent of the total income between April 27, 2016, and March 15, 2021. The 13 accused in the case are Velumani, Anbarasan and his wife S.A. Hemalatha (both partners of P. Senthil and Co. and shareholders in Sri Maha Ganapathi Jewellers Pvt Ltd.), R. Chandrasekar (shareholder in Constromall Goods Pvt Ltd., and Aalam Gold and Diamonds Private Limited), K. Chandraprakash (shareholder in Constromall Goods Private Limited), Chandrasekar’s mother R. Krishnaveni, (former shareholder in Constronics India), Chandraprakash’s mother K. Sundari (former shareholder in Vardhan Infraa Structure), H. Karthick (former shareholder in Constronics India), J. Vishnuvardhan (former shareholder constronics India), S. Saravanakumar (former shareholder in Vardhan Infraa Structure), Sri Maha Ganapathi Jewellers Private. Limted, Constromall Goods Private Limited and Aalam Gold and Diamonds Private Limited. As per the FIR, it is further suspected that Mr. Velumani had also channelised his ill-gotten money to various other companies/firms in which Chandrasekar, Chandraprakash and their relatives are partners or shareholders or directors and have acquired many more assets and kept in the name of his relatives and associates in various places in and around Tamil Nadu and outside. It said Velumani had travelled to Singapore on three occasions in 2019 and had stayed there for about 14 days. He had also travelled to Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, ted Kingdom and Maldives during his tenure as a Minister and had stayed there for a total number of about 32 days. Similarly, his family members, wife Vidya Devi, son Vikash and Sarangi, had also undertaken several foreign trips individually and jointly to places such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, UAE, Singapore, ted Kingdom, Indonesia, Australia and Maldives and had stayed there for a total number of about 130 days during which they have allegedly accumulated assets in those countries. GV 1212