Chidambaram claims I-T Department planning to raid his residence, 'welcomes' the search teams

"I have been told that the I-T Department has plans to raid my residence in Sivaganga constituency and in Chennai. We will welcome the search party," wrote Chidambaram.

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in a series of tweets alleged that Income Tax raids are being planned at his residence to 'cripple the election campaign.' He said that he will 'welcome the search party' and added that the people are watching and will give the government a befitting reply in the election. 

"I have been told that the I-T Department has plans to raid my residence in Sivaganga constituency and in Chennai. We will welcome the search party," he first tweeted. 

I have been told that the I T department has plans to raid my residence in Sivaganga constituency and in Chennai. We will welcome the search party! — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 7, 2019

"The I-T department knows that we have nothing to hide. They and other agencies have searched our residences before and found nothing. The intention is to cripple the election campaign," the former finance minister added. 

The I T department knows that we have nothing to hide. They and other agencies have searched our residences before and found nothing. The intention is to cripple the election campaign. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 7, 2019

Chidambaram's son Karti is contesting election from the Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu. He is facing charges of corruption and is currently out on bail.

"The people are watching the excesses of this government and will deliver a fitting lesson in the election," read Chidambaram's next tweet. 

The people are watching the excesses of this government and will deliver a fitting lesson in the elections. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 7, 2019

Chidambaram's tweet comes hours after I-T raids were conducted on Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister Kamal Nath's close aides at 50 locations in Indore, Delhi and Goa. 

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had also hit out at the central government after I-T raids were carried out in parts of Karnataka. He termed the raids as "PM Modi's real surgical strike" in a tweet and said:

PM @narendramodi's real surgical strike is out in the open through IT dept raids. The constitutional post offer for IT officer Balakrishna helped the PM in his revenge game. Highly deplorable to use govt machinery, corrupt officials to harrass opponents during election time. — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 28, 2019

The I-T Department had carried out coordinated raids at many locations across Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Kanakapura, Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan and Shivamogga.