Income Tax sleuths launched search operations at Poes Garden residence of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa for laptop, computers and pen drives reportedly used by jailed leader VK Sasikala, among other things.

The IT sources said that it was not a raid but a specific search after receiving specific inputs regarding some information contained in computer and pen drives used by Sasikala in two rooms she had occupied in Jayalalithaa’s residence.

On Friday night, the IT sleuths arrived and entered the Poes Garden residence amid chaotic scenes outside, with supporters of TTV Dinakaran holding protests against the central government and raising slogans against it.

Dinakaran himself told media persons “those who said they will turn Poes Garden residence into a memorial were getting it raided now. What can anyone find in her room. I am waiting for searches to be over. Then they will be answerable to the people.”

IT raids took place after Jayalalithaa’s secretary Poogundran was interrogated at length and also Jaya TV CEO VIvek Jayaraman. He had reached the Poes Garden residence as soon as news of IT raids spread.

The IT got formal orders from the court to carry out searches at Jayalalithaa’s residence. “We have not searched entire premises of the house,” said a senior IT official.

The search began at9 p.m., and searched a few rooms used by Sasikala were searched, IT official said.