The income tax department on Friday conducted raids at several places linked to Tamil Nadu minister E V Velu, including his residence, his Chennai office and educational institutions in Tiruvannamalai and other districts. Sources said the raids were carried out in connection with alleged tax evasion by the public works minister.

The raids began around 6.30 am and as news spread, several DMK workers started to gather at these premises, leading to heavy police deployment.

Velu is the fourth senior DMK leader to be raided by central agencies recently, following ministers V Senthil Balaji, K Ponmudy and MP S Jagathrakshakan. Balaji was arrested in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the state transport department and is currently in jail.