Amid Congress crisis, I-T raids against Rajasthan biz groups

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 13

Amid political instability in Rajasthan, the Income Tax (IT) Department today conducted massive search operations in four cities, including Delhi and Jaipur, in a tax evasion case against the state-based Jewellers and a hydropower infrastructure company.

State Congress VP’s showroom searched

In Jaipur, I-T teams searched the Amrapali Jewellers showroom, which is believed to be owned by Rajasthan Congress vice-president Rajiv Arora. Sources said premises linked to Dharmendra Rathore, a former chairman of the state seed corporation, were also searched

Even as I-T officials refused to say anything about the political links of those searched, the raids incidentally have come at a time when the state is witnessing an intense power tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot.

The I-T teams searched the Amrapali Jewellers showroom in Jaipur, which is believed to be owned by Rajiv Arora, who is reported to be the vice-president of the Rajasthan Congress. Sources said premises linked to Dharmendra Rathore, a former chairman of the state seed corporation, were also searched.

The officials said the tax raids had been launched early morning in Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and Kota and premises of the promoters and owners of a group company were covered. At least 80 tax sleuths apart from police officials were part of the teams that conducted the raids, they added.

Sources said the department launched the raids on the basis of inputs of alleged huge cash transactions and under-reporting of profits by the company, which was awarded a contract to build a dam in Rajasthan in 2018.

The department also searched a luxury hotel whose shareholder is one RK Sharma, who is facing an ED probe for alleged violation of forex laws related to remittance of over Rs 96 crore from Mauritius.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.