I-T raids continue, unaccounted money, documents seized

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 29

The raids by the Income-Tax Department which began yesterday were still underway at the premises of some suspects. Highly placed sources in the department confirmed that raids and surveys would continue till midnight.

Three people against whom search warrants were issued by the department include Kewal Krishan Chabra, Vinod Kumar Sahi and Rajinder Gujral.

Besides, several other people who were their dealers or with whom, the group has dealt in sale and purchase of properties have also come under the radar. The IT sleuths confiscated incriminating documents and unaccounted cash among others from the suspects. An official on condition of anonymity said the trio deal in commercial and housing projects. Role of a deed-writer, who also works with a vernacular newspaper is also under scanner as many sale and purchase deeds were done through him.

The three had been minutely observed by the department at the time of demonetisation as they had deposited over Rs 18 crore. During the raids two people were hospitalised yesterday. “We have nothing personal against anyone. As huge transactions were involved, they were under the radar of the department for long,” said the official.

The raids were conducted in Ludhiana, Mohali, Jagraon and Delhi among other locations. Premises of these dealers and their associates were raided at the AC Market, Rajguru Nagar, Haibowal, Field Ganj, near Dandi Swami.

When asked about the unaccounted amount recovered, the official said it was too early to say anything as raids were still going on. It is pertinent to mention that department conducted raids and surveys at nearly 40 premises yesterday.