Deepa, daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa’s brother, has vowed to file cases the Court against the Income Tax Department’s ‘needless and unwarranted’ raids at the Poes Garden residence of her Aunt, who was easily one of the most powerful politicians in the country till her demise under mysterious circumstances in December last year.

Income Tax officials raided ‘Veda Nilayam’, the ‘power-centre’ in the State for many years as it was the residence of the deceased former chief-minister J. Jayalalithaaa, late in the night yesterday. Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa arrived at the place within a few minutes of hearing about the raids. She wasn’t denied permission by the cops to enter the premises due to which she entered into an altercation with them.

Speaking to newsmen later, Deepa said that it was indeed shocking that she wasn’t allowed to enter the premises though she was the ‘righteous’ legal hair of the former chief-minister. “I heard that Income Tax officials are conducting raids at this place without serving a notice or intimating or taking permission from me. I only came here to know firsthand what was happening.

“I had filed cases with the Court claiming that ‘Veda Nilayam’ residence belonged to me. Despite this, the Income Tax Department has neglected me and I shall file a petition with the Court against their attitude. Those belonging to Sasikala’s caom are trying to show as if Jayalalithaa was involved in many irregularities, which wasn’t true.