The Directorate of Vigilance and anti corruption today conducted searches at 16 places belonging to former Minister Mr.Veerapandi Arumugam. On receiving specific information on the allegation that the former Minister had accumulated movable and immovable assets in his name and in the name of his family members raids were conducted at Chennai, Salem and Dharmapuri. In a press note issued at Chennai, the Directorate said that the searches were done as an essential part of investigation. Mr. Veerapandi Arumugam was the Minister for Agriculture during the DMK regime from 2006-2011. He was earlier arrested and was later released on bail in the land grab case. After the AIADMK government was sworn to power DMK leaders have been facing the heat in several cases.