The Income Tax department (ITD) conducted raids at over a dozen properties belonging to Delhi Transport and Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday.
A Delhi government spokesperson confirmed the development. According to Delhi government sources, the raids were conducted at 16 properties including Mr. Gahlot’s residence at Vasant Kunj in south Delhi.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to allege that the raids were yet another attempt by the Centre to “harass” the elected Delhi government.
He also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose “friendship” with fugitive businessmen such as Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya made them immune to such action against them, apologise for allowing similar, ineffective raids undertaken against other members of his Cabinet in the past.
“Friendship with Nirav Modi and Mallya and raids on us?” the Delhi Chief Minister alleged.
“Modiji, you got such raids conducted against me, Satyendar (Jain) and Manish (Sisodia)? What did these raids accomplish? Were you able to find anything? Or not? Why don’t you apologise to the people of Delhi for constantly harassing the government they elected before such raids?” Mr. Kejriwal added.
Media advisor to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Arunoday Prakash tweeted: “IT raids on Minister Kailash Gahlot. When will you understand Sahab, you won’t be able to bog AAP down with these tactics. AAP has been counting raids since it put you the mat in Delhi and you were left red faced on the massive defeat (Sic.)”