Income Tax department's officials are conducting raids across Vizag, Vijayawada and about 100 locations in Tamil Nadu, say reports. "In Chennai, Income Tax officials are conducting searches at VV Minerals and its owner Vaikundarajan. Searches underway at 100 locations in Tamil Nadu," a news agency reported on Thursday.

As reported by an English-language daily, as many as 50 officials of the IT department came to Vizag on Wednesday morning. Chit fund companies, real estate firms and business houses will come under the IT sleuths' scrutiny, the report mentions.

This is being seen as a political move by the Centre against pro-TDP forces in Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, the owner of VV Minerals is said to be pro-AIADMK. As per a national media house, the raids are because the IT department has information that the company is indulging in "alleged export of beach minerals even after a ban". This is a mere speculation as of now.