Indian police have raided the homes of former minister Dayanidhi Maran following allegations of his involvement in the countrys biggest corruption scandal, officials say. Maran resigned in July after he was named in the scandal over telecoms licences. He has denied any wrongdoing.
His party colleague, former telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja, is already in jail on corruption charges. The multi-billion dollar scandal has damaged the governments reputation. India may have lost as much as $39bn in revenue, a sum equivalent to the annual defence budget, the state auditor has said.
Mr Maran, who was the federal textiles minister, is being investigated as part of a broader inquiry into alleged offences committed over a decade. He belongs to DMK, a key ally of the governing Congress party. He has denied allegations that he coerced the founder of the mobile phone firm Aircel to sell off his stake to Malaysia-based Maxis.
Indian media reports said Indias Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had raided Mr Marans homes in Delhi and in the southern cities of Chennai and Hyderabad early today. The homes and offices of Mr Marans brother, Kalanidhi Maran, have been also raided