Raids in Tamil Nadu, office of NGO linked with Kanimozhi searched

In statewide raids in connection with the second generation mobile spectrum scam, CBI today searched the premises of an NGO linked with Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi's MP daughter Kanimozhi, auditors of her mother and former telecom minister A Raja.

The raids started this morning as part of nationwide searches, with CBI officials from Delhi targetting various premises of persons connected with Raja, who quit as telecom minister last month amid the snowballing 2G spectrum allocation controversy.

Premises of the auditor of Kanimozhi's mother Rajathi and siblings of Raja at Chennai and elsewhere came under the scrutiny of the agency, which also questioned a key aide of Raja and senior Tamil journalist, Kamaraj.

Tamil Maiyam, founded by Christian priest Jegath Gasper Raj, in which Kanimozhi is a director, was raided.

The NGO claims to work for promoting Tamil art, literature and culture and organises the annual cultural event Chennai Sangamam, a gala folk art show.

The investigating agency also swooped down on the premises of Raja's auditor Subramanyam. Rajathi's auditor Rathinam was also raided.

However, officials remained tight-lipped on any possible findings from their searches.

Searches were conducted at the residences of Raja's brothers at Chennai and Tiruchirappalli besides his ancestral house at native Velur village in Perambalur district.

His sister's house at Tiruchirappalli was also raided, sources said.

Two scribes came under the CBI net when Kamaraj, associate editor of Tamil magazine Nakkeran was taken for questioning after CBI officials raided his house in the morning. The senior journalist is known to be close to DMK circles.

At Tiruchirappalli, CBI officials raided the residence of a private TV channel reporter G L Narasimhan, considered a close associate of Raja.

The raids came a week after the agency had carried out searches at the residences of Raja and his relatives and aides at Chennai, Tiruchirappalli and Perambalur.

His key aide and a real estate promoter, Sadiq Basha had been questioned by the CBI.