Chennai: As part of the largest crack down against Sasikala’s family owned Business Interests and close associates, Today, the Income Tax Department carried out raids across 160 location in Chennai and rest of Tamil Nadu.
Some of the prominent places raided by IT sleuths include the Media entities owned by the jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala’s family that includes the Television Broacdast Network – Jaya TV, the Multiplex and Movie Business entity – Jazz Cinemas and Tamil newspaper DrNamadhu MGR.It has been learnt that the raid was started at 6.30 am and it is expected to continue till the evening.
Jaya TV and DrNamadhu MGR Newspaper were considered as the AIADMK party’s mouthpiece until J Jayalalitha was alive. However, the changing political alignment after the sudden demise of J Jayalalitha has pitted the media entities against the ruling state government headed by EPS and OPS faction, which is enjoying the blessing of Central government.
Chennai Press club condemns IT department:
Preliminary updates from Jaya TV revealed that the IT officials raiding the premises of Jaya TV objected against the non-stop coverage of raid by Jaya TV Network channel’s and threatened them of confiscating the Broadcast equipments in case if they failed to stop the coverage.
Chennai Press club took strong objection towards the act of IT officials and condemned the action of IT department in preventing news coverage by Jaya TV on IT raids.
In a statement issued today, Press Club says, “when the news telecast is in no way interfering with the official duties of IT officials, the action of IT officials in preventing news coverage would amount to muzzling of press freedom”.
It also requested senior officials of Income Tax department to intervene and issue suitable instructions to officials who conduct the searches.
