The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday initiated searches against former AIADMK minister C Vijayabaskar, as well as a Chennai-based real estate group, as part of a money laundering investigation, officials said.
The probe, which is underway, aims to uncover any potential financial irregularities or illegal activities involving the individuals and entities under scrutiny, they added.
About 25 premises are being covered by the central agency as part of the two cases, the sources said.
Case against Vijayabaskar
Vijayabaskar, a former health minister, is an AIADMK strongman from Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu. The searches against him are based on a state vigilance (DVAC) investigation of 2022 linked to an alleged case of possession of disproportionate assets, they said. He was earlier booked by the CBI in a "gutkha scam".
The premises linked to real estate group Gsquare and linked entities in and around Chennai city are also being searched as part of an investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources added.
(With PTI inputs)
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