Coimbatore: Income tax department officials conducted raids at several textile and jewellery shops in Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Salem on Friday.In Coimbatore, officials reached a textile shop in Gandhipuram around noon and began a search that lasted more than six hours. Similar raids were held in Tirupur, where officials searched two textile shops and one jewellery shop.In Salem, officials raided a popular private clothing store following a complaint that dhotis and sarees were being prepared for distribution to voters ahead of the assembly election in the state on April 23. Acting on the tip-off, officials entered the store with central industrial security force personnel, evacuated employees, and began an inspection. Customers were not allowed inside, causing a commotion in the area. The raids are still underway.Meanwhile, as campaigning intensified, election commission flying squad teams carried out checks to prevent the distribution of cash and gifts.
