In a stunning move that sends shockwaves through Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today raids multiple properties linked to Minister I. Periyasamy and his family across the state. The central agency’s sudden action, unfolding early this morning, targets premises in Dindigul and Chennai as part of a money laundering probe connected to alleged land grab cases. This swift operation intensifies scrutiny on the senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing fight against financial wrongdoing within the state government. The raids raise serious questions about accountability and the integrity of high-ranking officials, keeping the public gripped as details emerge.
Recent Searches by Enforcement Directorate
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday, August 16, 2025, carried out extensive searches at the homes and properties connected to Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister I. Periyasamy. The raids also covered premises linked to his son, I. P. Senthil Kumar, who is an MLA. his daughter Indra. These searches are part of an ongoing money laundering investigation. Teams of ED officials, supported by Central Armed Police Forces, began their operations around 7:00 AM. In Chennai, the Minister’s official residence on Greenways Road and his son’s room at the MLAs’ hostel in the Government Omandurar Estate were searched. Simultaneously, multiple locations in Dindigul and Madurai were also targeted. In Dindigul, three teams of officials arrived at residential properties in Durairaj Nagar, Vallalar Nagar. Seelapadi. The search at the Minister’s house in Dindigul ended around 7 PM, while searches at his son’s and daughter’s residences there continued. The operations in Chennai at the Minister’s official bungalow lasted for ten hours.
Background of the Investigation
The current money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate stems from an older case. The Minister and his family came under the scanner of central agencies due to allegations of money laundering and having assets that did not match their known sources of income. Specifically, the money laundering investigation follows an order issued by the Madras High Court in April this year. The High Court had directed a special court in Dindigul to frame charges against Periyasamy and his family members in connection with a case involving alleged disproportionate assets of about Rs 2. 1 crore. This case goes back to his time as a minister between 2006 and 2010. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had initially alleged that the family had gathered wealth beyond their known income during that period. A Dindigul trial court had earlier cleared Periyasamy, his wife P. Suseela. sons P. Sentilkumar and P. Prabhu in this Rs 2. 01 crore disproportionate assets case. But, this acquittal was overturned in April by Justice P. Velmurugan of the Madras High Court, who ordered a new trial and directed the special court to conduct the trial daily and complete it within six months. The family of Minister Periyasamy has since appealed this High Court order in the Supreme Court. A hearing for this appeal is scheduled for August 18. The Enforcement Directorate’s powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) allow them to investigate if assets, once deemed disproportionate, were then laundered.
Statements and Responses
The raids have led to strong reactions from various political parties and stakeholders. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party has sharply criticized the ED’s actions. DMK leaders have called the raids politically motivated. They have accused the central government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of misusing central investigation agencies to target opposition leaders and states governed by opposition parties. DMK MP Kanimozhi stated that the central government is using investigative agencies as “political tools” against the opposition and believes such tactics will not silence DMK members. Another DMK leader accused the ED of acting as a “puppet” of the BJP and reviving a decade-old case without new evidence to harm the DMK government. K. Selvaperunthugai, the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress, an ally of the DMK, strongly condemned the raids. He stated that the raids on Minister Periyasamy’s homes. those of his son and daughter, are “politically motivated” and aimed at intimidating and silencing the opposition. He further alleged that these actions are an attempt to destabilize the democratic government and weaken the political system. When media representatives approached ED officials at the raid sites, they declined to comment. There was no immediate official statement from Minister Periyasamy or the DMK regarding the ED’s actions when the raids began. But, Minister Periyasamy was present at his home during the search and briefly came out to ask party members to remain calm and disperse.
Public Reaction and Security Measures
As news of the searches spread, members of the local DMK party and other supporters gathered near the raided houses. In some areas, there was commotion, with some party members shouting slogans against the central government, accusing it of “tarnishing the image of the DMK government.” Security measures were high at the locations where raids were taking place. Central Armed Police Force personnel were deployed to guard the premises and ensure the smooth conduct of the searches. In Dindigul, when some local residents attempted to stop ED officials from entering Minister Periyasamy’s home, police and CRPF personnel were deployed to manage the situation and maintain order.
Legal Steps and Political Impact
The Enforcement Directorate’s actions are taken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which allows them to investigate and attach properties linked to money laundering offenses. The agency’s investigation is reportedly focused on potential irregularities in property ownership and financial transactions. The timing of these raids, especially with the Supreme Court hearing on the disproportionate assets case scheduled soon, has increased political tensions in Tamil Nadu. The DMK and its allies consistently argue that central agencies are being used as tools against political opponents, a claim that the central government denies, stating that investigations are carried out based on law. The outcome of the Supreme Court hearing is expected to be a key factor in how the disproportionate assets case proceeds. This event adds to an ongoing dynamic where state governments and central agencies are in a standoff, particularly concerning various investigations. 
