Chiranjeevi dismisses reports linking him with IT raids

Actor-politician Chiranjeevi has dismissed news reports linking him with the raids at the premises of his son-in-law and some of his distant relatives, saying they were aimed at "maligning" his image.

"I condemn such reports and declare categorically that I have no connection whatsoever with the IT raids. I appeal to all concerned to uphold good journalistic practices," he said in a statement.

Referring to media reports on the raids, he said some of them linked him to the raids on May 12, which were "politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing my image".

He asserted that he was a regular tax payer and has a "blemishless" reputation.

"I am also a recipient of the Samman Award given to meritorious tax payers by the Income Tax Department," he said.

Chiranjeevi, a Rajya Sabha member, said there were some raids carried out on the relatives of his son-in-law who have several businesses in Chennai.

As part of those raids, some searches were carried out at his son-in-law's places in Chennai, he said, adding these
raids were part of the standard procedures and investigation by the IT Department.

Maintaining that he was in no way connected with the raids, Chiranjeevi said the distant relatives of his son-in-law have owned up money found in their house.