Chennai/New Delhi, March 21: In a big political goof-up, CBI sleuths landed at 18 locations related to DMK supremo Karunanidhi's son Stalian's residences on Thursday morning and seized 17 imported cars.
The CBI raids caused a big furore in political circles both in Chennai and New Delhi, with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh saying that the timing of the raids (two days after DMK pulled out of UPA) was unfortunate.
"We are all upset. The government did not do it", said the Prime Minister.
On its part, the CBI, supposedly autonomous, said in a statement that the "searches (were) in accordance with procedure and not intended to target any particular individual."
M K Stalin, the political successor of Karunanidhi, described the raids as part of a political vendetta. Hundreds of DMK supporters gathered outside his residence on Cenotaph Road and chanted slogans against the UPA government.
In its statement, the CBI today said: " CBI wishes to clarify that the above operation was strictly in accordance with procedures and there was no intention whatsoever to target any particular individual.
"CBI has registered a case under section 120-B r/w 420, 467, 468, 468 r/w 471 IPC and sec. 13 (2) r/w 13 (1) (d) of PC Act, 1988 in connection with a complaint that about 33 vehicles had been imported in Tamil Nadu and of these, certain vehicles are believed to have been imported and subsequently sold in violation of import provisions causing loss of upto Rs.48 crores approx. to the exchequer.
" The case has been registered against an importer and a senior intelligence officer of DRI who allegedly did not take any action even after identification of vehicles at the premises of certain users and unknown others.
" During the searches conducted at 18 locations today, 17 imported cars have been located and seized under Section 102 (3) Cr.PC. Searches are continuing.
" CBI wishes to clarify that the above operation was strictly in accordance with procedures and there was no intention whatsoever to target any particular individual. Investigation is in progress."
In New Delhi, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said he strongly disapproved of the CBI raid leading to reports that it had been called off. However, a state intelligence official told IANS that the search had "got over and was not called off".
The search came two days after the DMK announced its decision to pull out of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) over the central government's stand on supporting a US-sponsored resolution censuring the Sri Lankan government on attrocities against Tamils during the civil war against the LTTE.
It is reliably learnt that the CBI registered the case in New Delhi and the raids were in connection with the import of cars and payment of customs duties.
The CBI also raided Stalin's friend Raja Shankar's house here in this connection.
Reacting to the raids, Stalin told reporters that it was mere political vendetta and he would face all the legal issues.
Stalin is the third person in his family to be questioned by the CBI.
In 2011, the CBI questioned Stalin's mother Dayalu Ammal and sister Kanimozhi.
Kanimozhi and Dayalu Ammal were questioned in connection with the flow of over Rs.200 crore from Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa's DB Realty firm to Kalaignar TV, a regional Tamil channel in which Karunanidhi's family members allegedly have majority stake.
