Chennai, Feb 21 (IANS) Income Tax Department officials on Thursday searched 31 premises of four businessmen in Tamil Nadu for suspected tax evasion, said a senior official.

"The search operation is on," the official not wanting to be identified told IANS.

Searches are on at several places here and in Vellore and Villupuram districts.

The businessmen are involved in real estate, dairy and money lending businesses.

--IANS vj/rtp/bg