Chennai: A couple of days after Income Tax officials carried out intensive searches at various places, including the houses of Health and Family Welfare Minister C Vijayabaskar and actor-politician Sarath Kumar, the IT department summoned them today.

The searches began early on Friday at more than 50 places and taxmen found evidence which led to raids at more places. Searches were conducted at the MLA Hostel and Lakshmi Lodge in Egmore.

Reports said evidence of distribution of over Rs 89 crore by the AIADMK (Amma) in RK Nagar which is going to polls on April 12, was unearthed. And documents in this regard were released by officials of the IT department, it was said.

Sarath Kumar said, “These raids come after I publicly announced support to TTV Dinakaran. It was a calculated political conspiracy. The IT officials threatened to break the door open if we didn’t let them in. How will we know that IT officials will come knocking at our door? They searched the entire house.”

It is a political vendetta, is how Vijayabaskar reacted. “The victory of party candidate Dinakaran cannot be stopped. The BJP government is threatening us, but we will not be cowed down by such threats. They raided Samathuva Makkal Katchi leader R Sarathkumar who supported us. But, do they have the guts to raid the house of TMC leader G K Vasan who is supporting Panneerselvam faction,” he asked.