More than Rs 281 crore in cash were recovered in Income Tax raids at various locations across Madhya Pradesh. Central Board of Direct Taxes said that this was overall seizure from MP till Monday. Income Tax officials informed the Election Commission of India about seizures and benami properties terming it as violation of model code of conduct.
Official Twitter handle of Income Tax department tweeted that Rs 242 crore was siphoned off to 80 companies in global tax havens. Moreover, cash books too had entry of unaccounted Rs 230 crore from premises raided in Delhi. Documents related to benami property in posh localities of New Delhi were also recovered.
Reports said that a part of the cash was also transferred to the headquarters of a major political party in Delhi, including around Rs 20 crore which was moved through hawala recently to headquarters of a political party from Tughlaq Road residence of political party’s senior functionary. Moreover, unaccounted cash worth Rs 14.6 crore, 252 bottles of liquor, some arms and tiger hide were also found in Delhi premises.
Income Tax raids on CM Kamal Nath’s close aides continued for the second day on Monday. Five large-size trunks full of cash recovered from Prateek Joshi’s residence in Bhopal were deposited in Reserve Bank of India. The amount is said to be more than Rs 10 crore. Wife of Praveen Kakkar was interrogated for about seven hours at IDBI Bank in Indore. She reached back home late in the evening.
Raids at flats in Platinum Plaza where Ashwini Sharma and Prateek Joshi were staying continued amidst heavy police presence. Sources said that more than Rs 10 crore was recovered from Prateek’s flat. Currency counting machines were pressed into service for counting of forfeited money. Moreover, incriminating documents related to investments and properties were recovered from their flats.
Passport of Ashwini Sharma has been confiscated by IT officials. Sources said that Sharma had been visiting foreign countries frequently. IT department is trying to figure out hawala connection in these visits. Sources say that IT teams are still in dilemma whether Ashwini and others should be taken to Delhi for further interrogation or not. IT teams need to take permission from state authorities if they want to take them outside the state. Speculations are on over possibility of proper ‘coordination’ between state and Central governments over transit of persons raided by IT team.
Raids were on at Platinum Plaza residence of Ashwini Sharma and Nadir Colony residence of Praveen Kakkar- OSD to CM Kamal Nath- in Bhopal. Search also continued at Indore premises of Kakkar where his wife was taken to the bank for interrogation. Income tax officials of Madhya Pradesh remained completely clueless about developments related to raids. Officials in the state maintained that raids were conducted by Delhi team and they know nothing about it.