Former DMK Minister and party principal secretary K.N. Nehru on Wednesday accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of deliberately “targeting” and intimidating those in the DMK who had “performed excellently” on the ground.

He was reacting to the search being conducted by the Central Crime Branch of Chennai City Police at the residence of party colleague and former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi at Tiruchi. 

In a brief interaction with journalists here, Mr. Nehru said the DMK would face such “raids” on its former Ministers and leaders by the TVK government by approaching the courts to prove they were not guilty.

Mr. Nehru, who came with a group of partymen to the residence of Mr. Poyyamozhi on hearing the news of the search, said he was told by the police team that they had received instruction from the top not to allow anyone inside the residence before completion of the search.  

He said Mr. Poyyamozhi had spoken to him over phone. 

Asked if he saw any link between the upcoming by-election to two Assembly seats and the search, Mr. Nehru said the TVK government was “targeting” those in the DMK who had served actively on the ground for the people with the intention of intimidating them by conducting “raids”. 

He replied in the affirmative when asked whether the search was an act of vendetta.