Talking to the press for the first time since Income Tax Department sleuths conducted searches in his residence and offices for the past five days, Jaya TV managing director Vivek Jayaraman said on Tuesday that he had given his replies to queries and indicated that he would cooperate with them in the future too.

The I-T sleuths “did their duty” and he did his duty by giving them answers, Mr. Jayaraman told reporters outside his residence in Mahalingapuram. He is the son of Illavarasi, who has been jailed along with V.K. Sasikala, former aide to late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in Bengaluru.

“I have been looking after Jaya TV and Jaaz Cinemas since two years now. During these five days, they asked me for documents regarding these. I have given detailed replies,” he said.

Mr. Jayaraman said I-T officials had questioned him about his wife’s jewels and he would submit documents to them in the next two to three days. “May be after days and months, we will be called again and questioned, and whatever questions they will raise, we will answer them. We are ready to answer to our knowledge,” he said.

To persistent queries from reporters on any documents seized during the searches, Mr. Jayaraman said, “Let’s not hype up what is not true” and went on to say he was for paying up income tax. “...you have to pay income tax. I am clear with that. It needs to be done.”

“Be it a normal citizen, it’s our duty to do that. Be it me or you or Minister we will have to be liable and we have to do our duty,” he said.

When reporters queried more, Mr. Jayaraman maintained, “Let’s not make it a propaganda.. Let’s not make it a big issue.”

To a query on whether there were any motive behind the searches conducted by the I-T officials, he said: “I don’t think so. They did their duty and I did my duty by giving answers.”

During the searches conducted at over 180 premises and offices of persons related and associated with sidelined AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala, officials said tax evasion on income to the tune of about ₹1,430 crore were detected.