Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has justified CBI and IT raids against former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son as well as RJD Chief Lalu Prasad. <br/><br/>Replying to a media query in New Delhi, Mr. Jaitley rejected any political motivation behind the action. He said people in high places buying assets via shell firms, is not a small matter. The Minister said the agencies do not act unless there is substantial basis and reason to suspect tax evasion or crime. <br/><br/>Earlier in the day, the CBI carried out searches at several places linked to Mr. Chidambaram and his son Karti over alleged favours granted in foreign investment clearance to a firm, INX Media, in 2007. <br/><br/>The Income Tax department conducted raids on at least 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas on charges of alleged benami deals worth one thousand crore linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and others.