Docs related to paper companies, investments seized from DMK minister's company: ED

CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday said it seized documents related to 'paper' companies from DMK leader and state rural department minister I Periyasamy's textile manufacturing firm, Irulappa Mills India Pvt Ltd.

Additionally, property and other investment-related documents were seized from the homes of Periyasamy's son and MLA, IP Senthilkumar and daughter Indra.The ED statement was issued on the day the Supreme Court stayed the trial before the Dindigul special court on the disproportionate assets case against I Periyasamy and his family. Based on this, the ED conducted searches on Saturday. "The companies were operated from the premises of Irulappa Mills India Pvt Ltd.

The accounts of the said companies are being verified. The digital devices seized are also being analysed," the ED said.

The ED carried out searches in Chennai and Dindigul at the official residence of the minister, Palani MLA IP Senthilkumar's room in the MLA hostel, and the houses of Periyasamy, Indra and Senthilkumar in Dindigul. The searches lasted the entire day, despite resistance to entering the MLA hostel.

In the statement, the ED said the searches were based on the DVAC FIR, in which Periyasamy and his family were accused of possessing disproportionate assets amounting to about Rs 2 crore, accumulated between 2006 and 2010 when Periyasamy was the housing minister. While the Dindigul court acquitted them of the case, the Madras high court in April reversed the order of the Dindigul trial court and ordered a fresh trial.