I-T Department Raids Actor Radhika Sarathkumar’s Radaan Media Network 

Chennai: Days after I-T officials conducted a raid at actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar’s residence, the department searched properties linked to his wife Radhika Sarathkumar’s Radaan Media Network on Tuesday.

The celebrity couples’ residence was raided on April 7 as part of a widespread crackdown to check use of money power in the RK Nagar bypoll. The I-T department had also raided multiple properties of Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, including his residence.

Sarathkumar had voiced his support for TTV Dinakaran, the candidate of the Sasikala faction of the AIADMK. Dinakaran is the nephew of Sasikala, who is jailed in a corruption case.

In all, 32 locations in the state, including 21 in Chennai, were raided on April 7.

Vijayabaskar is a die-hard loyalist of Sasikala, the AIADMK leader currently lodged in a Bangalore jail in a disproportionate assets case.

Tax officials said there were certain "inputs" that black money is allegedly being pumped in for the by-election to RK Nagar Assembly bypoll.

There were also several complaints of alleged money distribution by AIADMK's Amma faction.

The officials added that certain leads in the Sekhar Reddy case, the mining baron arrested for alleged financial irregularities post demonetisation, have also prompted the latest action.