Income Tax raids at rice mills in city, Kapurthala

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 12

The Income Tax (I-T) Department conducted raids at nearly 15 dozen rice mills in Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts today.

The raids were conducted to find concealed income of millers. Although I-T officials were mum on the issue, sources confirmed the raids.

Sources said over 100 I-T officials from Ludhiana and Chandigarh simultaneously conducted raids at Kapurthala and Jalandhar.

Five rice mills in Kapurthala and a rice mill in Shahkot in Jalandhar district were raided by I-T sleuths of the Investigation Unit, sources said, adding that raids were also conducted at other rice mills, but I-T officials were mum on the issue.

A number of vehicles reached Kapurthala and Shahkot at 7 am and started raiding the premises of rice millers. Simultaneous raids were also conducted at the residences of the millers, a source said, revealing that I-T sleuths conducted a deep search operation in the mills and residences of the millers.

Documents and accounts books of the millers were seized by I-T sleuths. Sources said the moment raids started, I-T officials also instructed the banks officials to seal the lockers of the millers. A bank official of Kapurthala also confirmed that I-T officials had asked him to freeze the bank lockers and accordingly over a dozen bank lockers belonging to rice millers were seized.

Till the filing this report, raids were reportedly on in both districts.