Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu), Aug 16 (PTI) Central agencies like IT and ED have been 'weaponised' by the BJP to be used against the opposition, senior DMK leader Kanimozhi alleged on Saturday. She asserted that the ruling party won't be cowed down by the Enforcement Directorate searches against senior minister I Periyasamy.

The ED searched multiple premises linked to the Tamil Nadu minister and a senior DMK leader, his MLA-son IP Senthilkumar in Chennai and their native, Dindigul, on Saturday as part of a money laundering probe.

Responding to the ED action against the minister, Kanimozhi alleged that "on one hand the BJP is using the EC to carry out attacks against democracy using SIR (Special Intensive Revision in Bihar) in a desperate bid to win elections." "At the same time, agencies like IT, ED and CBI which they regularly use as a weapon against opposition, are being used against senior minsters of DMK as well. These agencies have been weaponised and used as instruments against opposition. One such raid is happening today. The DMK will face this," she told reporters here.

"The minister has crossed so many challenges and stood firm with DMK. No amount of intimidation will threaten our workers and leaders," she said.

The money laundering investigation against Periyasamy stems from an order of the Madras High Court in April, which directed a special court in Dindigul to frame charges against the DMK leader and his family members in connection with a Rs 2.1 crore "disproportionate assets" case.

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had moved the court challenging a special court order discharging Periyasamy and his family members from the case earlier.

The HC also directed the special court to conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis and complete it within six months.

The prosecution's case was that Periyasamy had amassed wealth to the tune of Rs 2.1 crore in his name and in the names of his wife, P Suseela, sons P Sentilkumar and P Prabhu, disproportionate to his known sources of income when he was a minister between 2006 and 2010.

Senior DMK leaders and ex-ministers, K Ponmudy and V Senthil Balaji are already facing ED probe. While Balaji is being investigated in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam when he was Transport minister in an earlier AIADMK regime, Ponmudy has appeared for an enquiry before the central agency in connection with a money laundering case connected to alleged illegal sand mining. PTI SA ADB

Money laundering probe prompts searches amid claims agencies are being weaponised against opposition and calls for impartial investigation. Searches were conducted under a money laundering inquiry tied to allegations of disproportionate assets against a senior minister and his family, following the DVAC's challenge to an earlier discharge; the Madras High Court ordered the special court to frame charges and to conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis to be completed within six months, while political leaders allege central investigative agencies are being used as instruments against opposition figures.