Income Tax department on Thursday issued one more summons against Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabaskar over raids conducted at his residence and quarry about four months ago.
On July 21, Vijayabaskar had appeared before IT officials for investigation related to a stone quarry he owns in Thiruvengaivaasal.
He was asked to appear again on July 28, but he failed to do so.
Reportedly, the quarry in Thiruvengaivaasal owned by Vijayabaskar has ceased operations after it has been sealed by IT officials.
In April, the Income tax department had conducted raids at the residences of Vijayabaskar, actor Sarathkumar, MGR Medical University VC Dr Geetalakshmi and AIADMK politician Chitlapakkam Rajendran.
Raids were conducted in 35 places in Tamil Nadu including 20 places in Chennai and others in Pudukkottai, Namakkal, Trichy and Coimbatore. It was also said that the raids were to find proof of the minister's involvement in distributing cash to the voters of RK Nagar constituency in Chennai.
On May 17, 2017, the income tax department had again raided Vijayabaskar’s residence in Pudukottai, reported The New Indian Express. This came after a summon was issued to his wife over the IT raids.
The quarry related scam is not the only one in which Vijayabaskar's name has been dragged in. He has also been accused of taking kickbacks from Gutkha trader. Demanding his resignation, DMK leader MK Stalin said “During the raids at Vijayabaskar’s residence, it was known that 89 crore was distributed in RK Nagar. He should have stepped down from his post then itself. In the Gutka scam, no action has been taken against him. Now, all his properties are being frozen and his benami companies are coming out. At least now he should resign.”