Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal (SHP)
Bhopal, Aug 21: Over 20 premises in Bhopal were raided at 5.30 am on Thursday, by 150 officials of Madhya Pradesh's IT department. The IT officers had reportedly posed as Corona Warriors in order to bust the defaulters. The premises, belonging to two business groups and their associates, were visited by multiple teams of IT officials and Special Armed Forces (SAF) police personnel in vehicles bearing stickers that read: "Government of Madhya Pradesh, Health Department COVID-19 team welcomes you", a report by NDTV stated.
According to sources associated with the searches, some of which are still going on, documents and details of about 100 immovable properties were recovered.
The value of these properties, which are located in Bhopal and neighbouring Sehore district and include two cricket grounds, worth hundreds of crores, sources said. Cash worth Rs 1 crore was also recovered, sources added.
As per sources, one of the two business groups being raided - Faith Group's Raghvendra Singh Tomar - is linked to a powerful BJP leader, who is currently a cabinet minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.
The minister, from the Gwalior-Chambal region, had reportedly played a key role in the fall of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath-led Congress government in March.
Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja tweeted in response to news about the raids, writing: "This is nothing but a move to limit the rising stature of a cabinet minister. Recently the same minister publicly admitted Raghvendra Singh Tomar was like his younger brother. Now the BJP needs to clarify that minister's relations with Mr Tomar".
Retorting to the accusations, BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, "The Income Tax department is doing its job as per law, but the Congress is making false accusations just to defame BJP politicians".
It is believed that the raids conducted could likely lead to information about links with bureaucrats, politicians and cops, as well as possible unaccounted investments made by rich and influential individuals involved in the group and with its many properties.