Chennai :  MK Stalin, son of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi  has dubbed the CBI  raids on his residence  in connection with the alleged illegal import of cars,  as an act of ‘political vendetta.’ The raid began around 6 am on March 21, Thursday and continued for nearly three hours. Hundreds of party supporters had gathered outside  Stalin’s house while the officers searched his residence. The investigating agency also searched at the residence of  Stalin’s Secretary Raja Shankar.

Stalin has said that the raid was instigated  by the recent decision of the DMK to  withdraw support to the UPA led government at the Centre.

The CBI raid on Stalin’s residence on March 21, Thursday morning, comes just two days after the DMK chief announced his party’s decision to sever ties with the UPA government  after the latter refused to adopt a strong stand against Sri Lanka at the UN’s top human rights body in Geneva.  There are reports that it was Stalin who  forced his father to  take such a decision.

“We will face the present issue legally,” Stalin told reporters. Even  DMK  leader TR Baalu  strongly feels that the “raids are linked to the DMK exiting UPA alliance.” TKS Elangovan, DMK spokesperson, described the CBI search as an act of ‘pure revenge’ by the Congress.

But, CBI sources said  the searches were conducted after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence complained that the DMK leader had not paid duty for imported cars owned by him.