The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), under the Ministry of Finance, issued a press release denying allegations that the Income Tax Department conducted a search or restricted the movement of a political candidate in Sriperumbudur. The Department clarified that no search, survey, or enforcement action was carried out against the individual, nor was any premises, including his Chennai residence, covered under tax proceedings. It stated that routine verification exercises were undertaken in certain areas based on intelligence inputs regarding suspected unaccounted cash, but these were unrelated to the individual and yielded no actionable findings. The CBDT termed the allegations false and misleading, and confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Election Commission of India. A complaint has also been filed with Chennai Police seeking legal action for dissemination of incorrect information.
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes
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New Delhi, 21 April, 2026
Press Release
It has been brought to notice of the Income Tax Department that a post dated 20.04.2026 was published on the social media platform “X” by K. Selvaperunthagai, President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and candidate from Sriperumbudur Assembly Constituency, wherein he alleged that officials of the Income Tax Department, under the pretext of conducting a “search”, had unlawfully confined him within the constituency and prevented him from discharging his political duties and participating in election-related activities. The said allegations were further reiterated by him during interactions with media on the same day. In addition, certain sections of the media also reported that the residence of Shri K. Selvaperunthagai at Kilpauk, Chennai had been subjected to a search by the Income Tax Department.
The above statements and media reports were immediately examined and verified by the Department. The allegations made are entirely baseless, and factually incorrect. It is clarified that no search, survey, or any form of enforcement action was carried out by the Income Tax Department against Shri K. Selvaperunthagai on 20.04.2026 or on any date in the recent past. Further, no action whatsoever was undertaken that could have restricted his movement. It is also clarified that no premises, including his residence at Kilpauk, Chennai, were covered under any Income Tax proceedings as claimed in the reports.
It is pertinent to note that the limited verification exercises undertaken by the Department in certain areas of Sriperumbudur were based on specific intelligence inputs relating to suspected movement of unaccounted cash. Such routine verification activities were carried out in coordination with the appropriate authorities and were not connected in any manner to Shri K. Selvaperunthagai. These exercises did not result in any findings warranting further action and did not involve or affect the individual in any capacity.
The false and misleading statements made by Shri K. Selvaperunthagai has been reported to the Election Commission of India. Additionally, a complaint has been lodged with the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, seeking initiation of appropriate legal proceedings against the individual concerned for dissemination of false information and making defamatory allegations against a government department.
(V.Rajitha)
Commissioner of Income Tax
(Media & Technical Policy) &
Official Spokesperson, CBDT
