The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday, has launched a massive search operation in as many as 40 locations across Chennai in connection with the alleged Gutka scam.
The investigation agency raided and searched the houses of senior police officers, former DGP S George who resides at Maduravoyal, and other police officers serving in Tamil Nadu.
The CBI searched the houses of Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) TK Rajendran at Mogappair, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar and other police officers.
The Gutka scam came to light in July 2017, when the Income Tax Department in Tamil Nadu conducted raids at pan masala and gutka manufacturing centres and the residences of those associated with the manufacturing process. The raids were carried out to exhume tax evasion to the tune of Rs 250 crore.
During the raids, the officials seized a diary which carried names of Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, among others those who were allegedly involved in taking bribes from the manufacturer.
The manufacturing, storage and sale of the carcinogenic chewable forms of tobacco, including gutka and pan masala, were banned in Tamil Nadu since 2013.
