Income Tax officials raided the Chennai home of Tamil Nadu’s top bureaucrat, Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao, this morning.
Mr Rao lives in the city’s upscale Anna Nagar locality.
The raids are reportedly linked to a tax evasion investigation against Mr Rao’s son and some relatives. Simultaneous raids began at 5:30 this morning at the bureaucrat’s home and seven other locations, including the homes of his relatives.
Calling the raids “unprecedented”, DMK leader MK Stalin said they had “brought shame for Tamil Nadu. Corrupt officers and those behind them shouldn’t be allowed to escape.”
Earlier this month, taxmen raided businessman J Shekar Reddy who, sources say, has business links with the Chief Secretary’s son.
Sources say that documents found at Mr Reddy’s house may have led to the raid at Mr Rao’s home.
According to sources, over 100 kg of gold and cash amounting to Rs. 96 crore in banned 500 and 1,000-rupee notes and Rs. 34 crore in new currency notes have been found in the raids at the homes of Mr Reddy and two other Tamil Nadu businessmen.
Rama Mohana Rao is a 1985 batch officer from Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. He became chief secretary in June 2016. He was earlier additional chief secretary and was in the Chief Minister’s Office.
