Income Tax (I-T) Department officials on Friday carried out searches on the premises linked to the associates of former Minister and DMK’s Coimbatore South candidate V. Senthilbalaji in Karur.

According to sources, the officials began simultaneous searches at seven locations around 10 a.m. The office of PWD contractor M.C.S. Sankar Anand, Sakthi mess on Karur-Coimbatore Road, the house of its proprietor at Kothai Nagar, Kongu Mess and the house of its proprietor at Rayanur, were among the properties, where searches were undertaken. Mr. Sankar’s office was locked when the searches began and officials had to wait for about two hours to get the keys. The office was searched in the presence of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.