I-T raids on Goa politician, businessmen

 PANJIM, APRIL 16
Income Tax (I-T) sleuths on Friday conducted raids on offices and business premises of some businessmen and a top politician in the State.
I-T officials at Patto here declined to comment on the raids saying they had been conducted by a team from Bangalore Circle.
Since Friday morning, there were rumours that two top politicians who were part of G7 had been raided by I-T sleuths. One of them denied having any knowledge of the raids on his business concerns while the other was not available for comments. The latter’s office was learnt to have been searched by the sleuths. It is not known in what connection the searches were carried out.
Sources confirmed that 2-3 businessmen having business interest with the two politicians had I-T sleuths visiting their offices and business establishments on Friday.
One of them is into real estate and resides in Dona Paula though he hails from South India. The other has liquor business. The family is long into manufacture of liquor and runs a restaurant. The I-T sleuths searched their distillery units, two in North Goa and one is South Goa, the sources said.
Another person who is closely linked to a politician was also brought under the scanner by I-T. It is not known whether incriminating material was found during the searches.
The police who normally provide escort to the sleuths, interestingly, said they had no knowledge of any raid conducted by I-T officials in the capital city and its outskirts.
Less than two months ago, I-T sleuths had conducted raids on at least three businessmen from Bardez. One, riding on sympathy wave, got himself elected in a fiercely fought Zilla Panchayat election from Saligao constituency. In January this year, it was a former minister of the 90s who faced I-T sleuths.