Election officials raided the house of DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Minister K.N. Nehru in Tiruchi in the wee hours on Wednesday following a ‘tip-off’ that money was being distributed from there to woo voters, but it turned out to be a hoax.
Officials had gone to his house at 11 pm on Tuesday but were disallowed entry by the DMK leader’s Personal Assistant Muthukumaran who said Mr. Nehru was fast asleep.
They then waited till 4 am and conducted the search after Mr. Nehru woke up, but did not find any currency during the three-hour long operations, police said.
DMK alleged the raid was conducted only to restrict the movement of Mr. Nehru and other party members from carrying out election works and alleged that AIADMK men were distributing money during the time.
Meanwhile, police said they have arrested five AIADMK men for allegedly distributing money to voters in neighbouring Karur Lok Sabha constituency where former union minister M. Tambidurai is contesting and and seized Rs. 90,000 from them.
Amid charges and counter-charges of use of money to woo voters by rival parties, officials have been conducting raids at various locations, including residences of several state ministers and opposition leaders, based on “tip-offs” which however had turned out to be false so far.
