Jaffer Sadiq, the Chennai-based businessman and Tamil film producer, broke his silence on April 8 following a two-day income tax raid on his properties. Speaking to reporters, Sadiq claimed the search ended with a “Nil Seizure” recorded by officials, contradicting media reports that alleged thousands of crores had been recovered.
The IT department arrived at Sadiq’s residence around 6 AM on April 6 and conducted searches until 3 AM on April 8, covering multiple locations across Chennai including Egmore, Kilpauk, Anna Salai, and Perambur. “They searched the entire house thoroughly. The result was Nil Seizure. They recorded it and left,” Sadiq told the media. He added that the only cash found at his home was approximately 40,000 rupees meant for routine household expenses.
Sadiq, a former DMK Chennai West district auxiliary organizer, has been under scrutiny from multiple agencies over the past two years. The Narcotics Control Bureau arrested him in March 2024 over allegations of running a drug trafficking network, and the Enforcement Directorate followed with raids linked to money laundering. He was accused of being the mastermind behind a network that allegedly shipped pseudoephedrine to Australia and New Zealand, though Sadiq has consistently denied the charges.
Addressing the ongoing Delhi court case, Sadiq said his legal team has been handling it for two years and that he has no connection to the allegations. “It is wrong to accuse someone of large amounts before any verdict has been passed,” he said, adding that he would share the court’s decision when it comes. He also stated that NCB and election officials had conducted their own searches alongside the IT department and found nothing.
The timing of the raids, coming during election season, was not lost on Sadiq. He noted that his auditor and lawyers had already been responding to a previous IT notice and questioned why another raid was necessary while that process was still underway. “Whether they came looking for election money or anything else, they confirmed nothing was found,” he said. He also clarified that he is no longer affiliated with any political party and has stepped away from politics entirely.
Sadiq reserved particular frustration for the media coverage of the raids. He said reports claiming seizures of thousands of crores were completely false and requested that outlets stop spreading misinformation. “Do not use me as a tool,” he said. Of all the agencies that have investigated him, Sadiq noted that only the IT department conducted itself properly and with clarity.
Turning to his professional life, Sadiq said he is currently focused on his family, ongoing legal matters, and film production work. He has two upcoming projects under his banner: Mangai and Iraivan Migaperiyavan. Whether the courts eventually clear his name or not, Sadiq’s attempt to control the narrative around the latest raids signals that the producer intends to remain visible rather than retreat from public life.