More than Rs 85 lakh seized in IT raids in MP

Bhopal, June 2 (UNI) The Income Tax authorities have unearthed more than Rs 85.48 lakh in cash and jewellery worth Rs 28 lakh during the raids on the premises of builders and government officials in Madhya Pradesh.

IT director general S S Rana told reporters here today that documents seized from Jabalpur-based Ajit Construction Company revealed that crores of rupees have been distributed among government officials in the name of mobile dispensary van being run by the Madhya Pradesh government.

Besides, a diary containing details of distribution of commission was seized during a raid in the state capital.

The IT department conducted raids at 56 premises of which 37 were searched and 19 were surveyed.

IT raids have indicated to a nexus among government officials, builders and construction companies that is involved in using money earned from illegal means to purchase land in name of their relatives.

Besides, Health Department schemes were being misutilised by pharmacists, builders and government officials.

During raids, Rs 14.14 lakh was seized from Subodh Jain, Rs 1.80 lakh from State Small Scale Industries Corporation managing director and Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi's brother Abhay Vishnoi, Rs 1.80 lakh from Ashwini Srivastava, Rs 5.50 lakh and jewellery worth Rs 29.91 lakh from Awdhesh Kumar, Rs 67,000 and jewellery worth more than six lakh from Director (Health) Rajesh Rajora, Rs 3.29 lakh and jewellery worth Rs 2.19 lakh from Mr B M Singh, Rs 2.50 lakh from Shaukat Ali and Rs 2.25 lakh from Dr Arun Mohanty.

Mr Rana said two premises in Mumbai and one in the state capital were sealed as concerned people were abroad. Besides, 27 lockers were sealed and more assets disproportionate to known sources of income were likely to be unearthed.

He said the IT department did not conduct raids at the premises of Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi. He denied that raids were conducted under political pressure.

The raids were conducted on the basis of documents seized during raids at the premises of former Health Director Yogiraj Sharma.

Mr Rana said some documents indicated that a builder and a person associated with media was evading tax in the name of income from agricultural land.

UNI AG-PS SP BST2115