An Income Tax officer conducts a search operation in Jaipur’s Ganpati plaza.
(Photo: Screengrab from ANI video/ X)
The searches were conducted a month after BJP leader Kirodi Meena claimed that a huge amount of black money and gold was kept in some lockers in the city
Officials of the Income Tax Department on Friday carried out a raid at Ganpati Plaza in poll-bound Rajasthan’s Jaipur. The searches were conducted a month after BJP leader Kirodi Meena claimed that a huge amount of black money and gold was kept in some lockers in the city.
The raids were carried out in two phases. At first, two lockers were cut open and lakhs of cash was recovered from one of the lockers. As per news agency ANI, a sack full of currency notes was found in the second locker following which its counting was underway.
#WATCH | Rajasthan | Income Tax search underway at Ganpati Plaza in Jaipur, related to black money. In the first phase, two lockers were cut opened and Lakhs of cash was recovered from one of the lockers. A sack full of currency notes was found from the second locker and counting… pic.twitter.com/ilWGWVwp0n— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2023
Till now, Rs 1.37 crore of unaccounted cash has been recovered from one of the lockers. India Today also reported that 12 kg gold was recovered from these lockers.
There are about 1,100 lockers in Ganpati Plaza. The first raid was carried out on October 13, following which data on locker holders was prepared. On October 20, 80 lockers holder were issued a notice.
On October 13, Meena alleged that Rs 500 crore black money and 50 kg gold are kept in 100 private lockers in Jaipur. He had demanded the police to conduct probe and open these suspected lockers.
At a press conference, the BJP leader had also requested the media to accompany him to the lockers. “There are around 100 lockers which have around Rs 500 crore and 50 kg gold. I will sit at the gate till the police come and open the lockers. If I disclose the names now, the lockers will not be opened under political pressure,” Meena, a BJP candidate from Sawai Madhopur Assembly seat, had told reporters.