Chennai: Sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran today alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the Income Tax searches at the residence of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa to “squeeze us out” from politics.

The Chief Minister Palaniswami camp, however, blamed the Sasikala family for the raids.

I-T sleuths conducted searches in the office block of the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa, ‘Veda Nilayam’.

Following inputs, a search operation was launched in the office block and a room used by jailed and deposed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala.

Dhinakaran alleged that there was a conspiracy to squeeze out his family from politics and slammed his rival, Chief Minister Palaniswami, for not opposing the raids.

The Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa was a “sacred place” (punitha sthalam) for over 1.5 crore party workers and I-T sleuths conducting searches there had “hurt” them, he told reporters at Thoothukudi.

He pointed to the state government’s announcement on turning the house into a memorial, but questioned why not even a single minister or any representative from that camp had gone there yesterday when the raid was on.

“They said the house would be made a memorial, but not one minister came to the spot. They are not voicing out their opinion against the raid due to selfish motives and out of fear,” he alleged.

“Certainly, there is a political intention behind the raids… they want to finish us off, squeeze us out of politics. Those in government allowing these raids will have to reply at the appropriate time,” he said.

“I believe there is a conspiracy today after Amma’s death (against his family),” Dhinakaran said.

State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar also regretted that I-T raids conducted at Veda Nilayam and blamed the Sasikala family for the same.

“After Amma’s (Jayalalithaa) death, those with Sasikala and Dhinakaran were staying at Amma’s house. The family members of these two are responsible for the raids,” he said.