A few hours after DMK President MK Stalin condemned the IT raids at his son-in-law’s premises, the DMK has complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI) alleging unruly behavior by the tax officials and that they entered Senthamarai's residence forcibly here today.
"The income tax department has been used as a sword and as a pawn in the hands of the ruling BJP party and there are no reasons as to why these searches are being conducted few days before the election date i.e. April 6”, DMK said in its complaint.
Saying that DMK has a huge fan following in Tamil Nadu and that opinion polls have favoured DMK to form a government in the state, therefore, the BJP is using central agencies to defame MK Stalin and other party leaders.
DMK said: "The overall sentiments of the people are in favour of the DMK combine as for last 10 years there has been high rise of corruption and high rise of offences against women including sexual harassments at the workplace including one incident by a top police official in the DGP rank."
Urging the ECI to intervene and direct the Income Tax department to refrain itself from abusing its power during elections, the DMK said the act of tax deparment amounts to corrupt practice falling within the definition of Section 123(7) of Representation of People Act.
Alleging the tax officials under the garb of discharge of official duties are abusing their powers for the purpose of poll prospects of the AIADMK- BJP combine, DMK added that all the officials involved in these operations will be named and tried accordingly in accordance with law.
"Further their actions amounted to intimidating and defaming and therefore they will not have any protection under the Act for their official discharge of functions," the party added.
The polling for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly is scheduled on April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.