IT department raids showrooms of Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahiliani and others, for large unaccounted cash transactions

New Delhi: The world of fashion was in a tizzy on Tuesday after the Income Tax department raided the outfits of almost every top designer in the country. Showrooms and residences of famous designers, including Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahiliani, Shantanu and Nikhil and Ritu Kumar were among those raided, media reports said.

Officials of the income tax department were still carrying out multiple searches at showrooms and at the residences of these designers in Delhi when reports trickled in late at night. The designers are accused of large unaccounted for and clandestine cash transactions, which will invite the charge of tax evasion.

Sources said that tax sleuths swooped down on at least 25 establishments located in both north and South Delhi. The teams have taken into custody sales records and computers/laptops. These records will be examined for the volume of transactions which will be used to cross check the returns filed by the designing houses, said India Today’s news portal.

Sources claim raids were also allegedly conducted at the residence of bhajan singer Narendra Chanchal. “However, the target of the searches is the son of the singer,” said a tax official. The news portal quoted sources in the finance ministry as saying that for some time there were reports that despite the Rs 2 lakh ceiling for cash transactions, fashion houses were continuing trading in cash to keep the volumes of their business off the tax radar.