Chennai: Income Tax (IT) officials on Tuesday raided 33 premises in Tamil Nadu here and Madurai belonging to three business groups. It is a follow-up to its earlier searches linked to jailed AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala’s kin and business associates, said a senior official.

“Search operations are on… The officials are carrying out searches in the premises of Marg group, S2, and Millennium,” the IT official told a news agency preferring anonymity.

According to him, this is a follow-up of the IT Department’s search operations carried out in 187 premises belonging to the relatives of Sasikala and their business organisations.

As reported by Puthiyathalaimurai, the raids are also taking place at the residences and offices of Chitti Babu and Senthil in Perambur. This is related to the illegal transfer of Luxe theatre from Sathyam to Jazz Cinemas. Chitti Babu, the proprietor of Spectrum mall, has been taken into custody for further enquiry.

The raid comes days after the IT officials carried out that massive search operation and unearthed Rs 1,430 crore of tax evasion.

The IT Department also raided the residence of late Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J.Jayalalithaa after that.