In Chennai, Income Tax raids are under way in the residences and other properties of the state chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao and his close associates at ten different locations. <br/><br/>The residence of his close relative in his native place at Chittoor in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is also being searched. Income Tax Investigation Wing officials told AIR News, 110 officials are involved in the raids that is expected to be over by tomorrow. They said, new high value currencies worth 18 lakh rupees issued post demonetization, documents in support of transaction of Rs 5 crore worth unaccounted cash and bullion weighing 2 kilogram have been seized so far.<br/><br/>In another incident that is believed to be having possible links with the ongoing raids, the apex investigative agency CBI arrested a sand mining baron Sekhar Reddy and his close aide K Srinivasalu in Chennai today and lodged them in the Central Prison at Puzhal on the city outskirts. The duo were earlier presented before the CBI Special Court which granted them judicial custody till 3rd January. <br/><br/>During a raid at the premises of the duo a fortnight ago at Vellore by the Income Tax authorities, huge cash including Rs 33.6 crore in new Rs 2000 notes and 171 kilo gram of gold were unearthed. Later, the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate also joined the probe against them and filed cases under provisions of Prevention of Corruption and anti-money laundering acts. Cases have also been filed against another person close to them and unknown bank officials and public servants. <br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports that the raid against a serving chief secretary in the state is termed as unprecedented by the opposition parties who demand his immediate resignation or his removal by the chief minister. <br/><br/>The income tax authorities also searched the office of the chief secretary in the Secretariat at Fort St George Central Reserve Police Force personnel are deployed in the premises where the searches are going on. Security for the Investigation Wing of the Income Tax Office is also strengthened. Once the search operation gets over by tomorrow, more details are expected to emerge.

In a significant development in Chennai, Income Tax officials are conducting raids at the properties of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao and his close associates. The raid began simultaneously at his residence and the premises of his close associates in at least ten locations in the city in the small hours today. Over 100 sleuths of the IT Department are involved in the search operation.<br/><br/>The search on the state government's topmost official is reportedly a sequel to the raids on the premises of sand mining baron Sekhar Reddy and his two friends in Vellore a fortnight ago. The IT search at Vellore unearthed over Rs 134 crore cash including Rs 34 crore worth new Rs 2000 notes.<br/><br/>The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate also joined the probe following the startling revelations and filed cases agaist the trio including under sections of money laundering. It is strongly believed that the inquiries helped the IT sleuths to widen their net, leading to the searches that are under way now. Mr Reddy is considered to be very close to Mr Rama Mohana Rao. The raid is believed to go on for more than a day and confirmation about the findings are expected to be known only after its conclusion.<br/><br/>The opposition leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly and DMK treasurer MK Stalin said the raid against chief secretary Rama Mohana Rao is unprecedented, denting the image of the state. In a statement in Chennai, he has called for stringent and transparent action against politicians and officials who are indulging in corrupt practices.