Srini weds Mahi: I-T department's kalyanam

Chennai: Income tax department officials who were part of one of its grandest operations in the state in the department's history arrived in vehicles with the poster 'Srini weds Mahi' on the windshield.

'Srini weds Mahi' was the code word for the I-T survey and search on Thursday, which also incidentally happens to be a muhurtham (auspicious) day.

In Chennai alone, the I-T department booked more than 300 cabs from a private operator for the surveys and searches. And with the wedding halls in the city busy on Thursday, it was the perfect cover for the I-T officials.

Whether the day chosen was intended or just a wicked coincidence is unclear, but it corroborates with the popular story about income tax searches being termed 'kalyanam' among the circles.

In popular culture, 'Kalyanam' as a code word for I-T searches is referred to in actor Rajinikanth's 2007 movie, Sivaji. Rajni, who plays an anti-corruption crusader cons the antagonist by posing as an I-T staff and tells him that their department has planned for a 'kalyanam' on the latter's premises.

“Kalyanam in our department jargon means a raid,” Rajni tells the antagonist.

Clearly, there was no one to inform the Mannargudi family and the other businessmen across the state about the 'kalyanam' on their premises and about the gatecrashers. While the wedding is over, for now, people have to wait and see what's in store for the reception.