Coimbatore/Chennai, Oct 22 (PTI) Vigilance sleuths filed a disproportionate assets case against a Salem based AIADMK leader considered to be close to former Chief Minister K Palaniswami and conducted searches at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu.

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The AIADMK, condemning the case and searches, said people would soon put a full stop to such politically vindictive action.

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The vigilance and anti-corruption wing registered a case of amassing Rs 3.78 crore against R Elangovan during the check period from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2020. The case is under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC.

Elangovan is the chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank and president of the Salem District Central Cooperative Bank since 2014 and 2013 respectively.

The 57-year old Elangovan is the Secretary of Salem-Rural District 'Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Peravai', an AIADMK wing.

He is named the first accused, and his son E Praveen Kumar, who is the vice-chairman of an educational trust is the second accused for 'abetment'.

According to the FIR, dated October 21, there is suspicion that the two men named as accused acquired 'many more assets' that are held by "benamis in various places in and around Tamil Nadu and outside."

Further, there is information that they have invested large amounts from the 'ill-gotten money' in colleges and institutions being run by a trust in Tiruchirappalli district, it added.

The searches were held in 26 premises in Salem, Namakkal, Chennai, Karur and Tiruchirappalli.

Condemning the action as political vendetta of the DMK regime, AIADMK top leader K Palaniswami said it was aimed at 'blocking' the party activities of Elangovan, an active office-bearer who is also loyal to the party leadership.

In a statement, the former CM said the AIADMK is a 'great people's movement' that had faced several challenges, have overcome them and made achievements.

The DMK government's continuous efforts to try to stop the AIADMK on its tracks would be scuttled with the wishes of party workers and "people will soon put a full stop to Chief Minister M K Stalin's vendetta measures."

Elangovan is the fifth AIADMK man to face vigilance action after the DMK assumed power in May 2021. A case of corruption allegations against S P Velumani, a former Minister, has already been filed. Disproportionate assets cases are faced by former Ministers C Vijayabaskar, K C Veeramani, and M R Vijayabaskar.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)