New Delhi: The Income Tax (IT) department has raided the offices and residences of a prominent coal trader and transporter in Chhattisgarh in connection with alleged tax evasion of hundreds of crores. According to reports, raids are being conducted at many places in Chhattisgarh from June 30.
During the raid, IT officials have reportedly seized several documents and “undeclared” cash worth crores and also unearthed tax evasion of “some hundreds of crores” after raiding a Chhattisgarh-based group engaged in coal transportation and allied businesses Is.
Sources said that raids were conducted at the residence of a Congress leader and a well-known businessman associated with the coal business in Raipur and Mahasamund. Income Tax Department officials also raided the house of the transporter working with him in Korba. The house of this transporter is located near Meher Vatika in Old Basti Durpa Road.
During the raid at the house of the transporter, who is alleged to have transported coal from the mine through his trucks to various places, the Income Tax Department officials found several incriminating documents, which they examined in detail.
During this operation, Central Armed Forces personnel were deployed outside the transporter’s residence. During the operation no outsider was allowed inside the house and no member of the house was allowed to go out.
It is alleged that a coal washery located in Kothari has been sold for Rs 100 crore. Also, land worth Rs 77 lakh has been recently registered in the name of coal transporter. Meanwhile, five separate registries worth Rs 23 crore in the name of the same person have also been traced by the IT officials. The coal transporter also has another house in Bilaspur, which has come under the scanner of the IT department.
Tax officials also searched the residence of a senior state government official, including some businessmen, in Bhilai town of Durg district. IT department officials said the group made “unaccounted” cash payments of around Rs 45 crore in buying the coal washery.
During searches, a large number of property agreements have been found, revealing large “undeclared” investments made in the acquisition of immovable properties that appear to be “benami” in nature.
The surprise raid by the Income Tax Department in Chhattisgarh has shaken the bureaucracy.