CHENNAI: Income Tax sleuths have been carrying out searches in 15 places in the city and Puducherry linked to ostracised DMK functionary Jaffer Sadiq, who was arrested by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in 2024 on charges of smuggling pseudoephedrine drugs abroad.Sources in the Income Tax dept said that the searches are underway based on fresh information of large-scale tax evasion. The Enforcement Directorate has already been probing the money laundering prospects by registering a separate ECIR. Income Tax dept’s fresh case and subsequent searches, when the model code of conduct is in force, assumes significance.Income Tax dept has deployed about 100 of its personnel to launch simultaneous searches in 15 places, including Egmore, Kilpauk, Anna Salai and Purasawalkam in the city and Puducherry. It would be too early to comment about the seizures, said Income Tax sources. Though most of the searched places were already covered by the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax dept officials said that there has been fresh evidence about tax evasion, leading to the searches.NCB busted a godown in Delhi in Jan 2024, where pseudoephedrine disguised as cocoa powder had been packed for export to countries like Australia and New Zealand. Jaffer Sadiq was accused as the mastermind behind the cartel and he was subsequently arrested in March the same year. Searches were made in Chennai as well, and his accomplices were arrested. Later, ED stepped in to probe money laundering by Jaffer Sadiq and family members, and the investigation is still on.
