The Income Tax Department on Friday conducted coordinated searches across 44 locations linked to eight high-profile contractors, including relatives of two former ministers, over allegations of tax evasion amounting to more than Rs 170 crore.
Allegations of Fake Transactions and Tax Evasion
Sources within the I-T Department revealed that the searches were initiated following investigations into real estate developers who allegedly assisted Hansita Abhilipsa, accused of accumulating massive wealth through illegal means and benami transactions.
Preliminary findings indicate that these contractors allegedly evaded taxes over the past five years by creating fake labor and construction material bills. During the searches, Rs 1.5 crore in cash was seized, with officials expecting this amount to rise as the investigation progresses.
Links to Political Figures and Regional Contractors
Among the contractors under scrutiny, one is reportedly a sibling of a BJD minister, while another is the brother of a Congress leader from Balangir. Although no direct links to Hansita have been found so far, the department is investigating whether other contractors had associations with her.
The searches were conducted in Bhubaneswar, Balangir, Kantabanji, Boudh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Raipur (Chhattisgarh). Four of the eight contractors are accused of large-scale tax evasion, according to sources.
Hansita's Financial Trail
Investigators have been trailing the financial transactions of Hansita and her associate Anil Mohanty. Recent findings revealed dealings worth crores of rupees with a corporate entity, raising suspicions about potential collusion between Hansita and some of the contractors.
Ongoing Investigation
The I-T Department is probing whether the suspected contractors were complicit in Hansita's alleged financial misconduct. With further searches and interrogations underway, authorities are working to unravel the extent of the alleged tax evasion network.
Conclusion
This large-scale operation highlights the Income Tax Department's ongoing efforts to crack down on tax evasion and financial irregularities. The findings from this case may lead to more stringent actions against individuals and entities involved in fraudulent financial practices.
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