Former Tamil Nadu power and excise minister Natham R Viswanathan was dismissed from his posts as organising secretary and spokesperson for the All India Dravidra Munnetra Kazhagam, Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa announced on Monday. His removal from the positions came after income tax officials raided 40 locations on Monday morning, including Viswanathan's home

A senior official said, "Several teams of officials from the I-T investigation department raided 40 premises in Chennai and other places on specific information about assets above their known sources of income. The raids will continue." Other officials said Viswanathan had been under the department’s scanner after cash and counting machines were seized during a raid at his associate CP Anbunathan’s home.

Viswanathan was appointed party spokesperson and organising secretary after he lost the Assembly election from Athoor constituency in May. There was no reason specified for his dismissal, according to The Times of India. A house owned by Chennai Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy's son Vetri Duraisamy was also raided, in addition to sites owned by Kirthilal Jewellers and Meenakshi Mission Hospital.