Under pressure, CBI calls off raid at MK Stalin`s house

The CBI raid at DMK leader MK Stalin`s residence was called off minutes after Finance Minister P Chidambaram strongly disapproved of the action.

Zeenews Bureau

Chennai: In a bizarre turn of events, the CBI raid at DMK leader MK Stalin`s residence here has been called off minutes after Finance Minister P Chidambaram strongly disapproved of the action. The raid was being carried out at Stalin’s residence in Chennai, and at 18 other places across Tamil Nadu, in connection with a case of alleged tax evasion of imported cars. The raid, which is said to have begun at around 6 am, was stopped little after 10 am. Chidambaram said that he did not approve of CBI raids, which came just two days after the DMK pulled out of the UPA government. "In this case I have to say that I strongly disapprove of the action. This action will be misunderstood.” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath also objected to the raids, while Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the government condemns the raids and the CBI would be asked to explain the same. Speaking to reporters, Stalin said that the raid was part of `political vendetta` against the party. "We left the UPA that is why CBI raided us. We will deal with it in accordance with the law." The DMK had on Tuesday formally withdrawn support to the UPA government over the issue of US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lankan war crimes issue. Reports had suggested that Stalin had prevailed over his father in the decision to pull out from the UPA. As the news of CBI raids spread, senior DMK leaders and a large number of party supporters gathered at the residence of Stalin. An FIR was registered yesterday against one senior Intelligence Officer of Directorate of Revenue Murganandam and two others for allegedly abusing their official position by not taking any action when the import of foreign cars, including some limousines, was made. According to the FIR, the officials have allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with unknown people and caused a loss of Rs 20 crore to the exchequer. One of the imported cars is being used by Stalin`s son, officials said, adding after further investigation names of beneficiaries of importing the car would be included in the FIR. The CBI said that the FIR was registered on the basis of a `source information` as the agency had been probing the leads in the case for quite some time.