Live: Government didn't order the CBI raid on Stalin, says PM

New Delhi/Chennai: 1:00 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called the raids on MK Stalin unfortunate claiming the government didn't order the raids. "The timing is most unfortunate and the government did not do it," the Prime Minister said in his statement.

11:20 am: DMK chief Karunanidhi, in a toned down reaction on the CBI raids on his son MK Stalin, has said it may or may not be political vendetta. "I don't want to speculate if central ministers have said they were not aware of raids. Political vendetta happens not only in Centre, but state also," Karunanidhi said in a statement.

10:57 am: Upset with the CBI raids on DMK leader MK Stalin, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has questioned the minister concerned V Narayanasamy.

10:30 am: The CBI raids at DMK leader MK Stalin's house have been stopped and sources say he has not been named in the FIR. CBI sources say they were just looking for a car on the complaint of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Sources say the search procedure is over and the CBI teams have returned.

10:05 am: The Bharatiya Janata Party questioned the timing of the CBI raids on DMK leader MK Stalin saying it will raise the issue in Parliament. BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said, "This raid proves that the government misuses the CBI, it's a politically-motivated raid. The government is willing to do anything to stay in power. We will raise this issue in Parliament."

The Samajwadi Party also called it a political revenge. "This is a case of politics of revenge. SP will never accept this. If Congress thinks this will scare us, it is not possible," SP leader Naresh Aggarwal said.

9:28 am: Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said he disapproves of the CBI raids on DMK leader and Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin as it is bound to be misunderstood. Speaking to CNN-IBN, Chidambaram said, "I strongly disapprove of the action by the CBI. It will be misunderstood. I have spoken to the minister concerned."

MK Stalin's house is being searched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Chennai in connection with alleged illegal import of cars worth Rs 20 crore. Calling it political vendetta, Stalin said, "I am being targeted. It is quiet clear, why I am being targeted. We will face the case legally. I am unaware of the reasons for the CBI raid."

The CBI raids come two days after the DMK pulled out of UPA government and the party questioned the timing of the raids. DMK leader TKS Elangovan said this showed that the UPA government uses CBI for its benefit. "This only justifies the charge by Opposition that the government uses CBI for their benefit and to put pressure on other political parties. But we're not bothered, not afraid of all these raids. We have noithing to hide," said Elangovan.

One of the illegally imported cars is allegedly being used by Stalin's son and the CBI is trying to verify the details. A case has been registered by the investigative agency but its still unclear who has been named.

The raids at Chennai residence of M Karunanidhi's younger son and heir apparent is on the basis of a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) complaint regarding a case involving illegal car import.

Calling the raids a political vendetta, DMK leader TR Baalu said, "One can understand how the Congress government is working, how are they behaving. This is only political vendetta. Let the CBI do anything, we don't bother. One has to understand how the Congress has stooped down to this level."

The DMK had withdrawn from the UPA on Tuesday demanding the government should get a resolution passed by Parliament against Sri Lanka. Following the pullout of their party, five Union ministers of the DMK - MK Alagiri, SS Palanimackam, S Gandhiselvan, S Jagatrakshakan and D Napolean - submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, which were accepted and later sent to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Big questions:

- Why has the CBI suddenly decided to stop raids against DMK's MK Stalin?

- Is it not unprecedented that senior Congress ministers are condemning the raids?

- How was P Chidambaram unaware of raids when DRI falls under his ministry?

- Is the opposition right in saying Congress's biggest ally is CBI?

- Does the CBI U-turn on DMK raids prove that it's the government's weapon of choice?