I-T raids on bridal studios, MC officer’s house in city

Mohit.Behl

Ludhiana: The principal directorate of income tax, Punjab and J&K, on Wednesday raided 25 premises in Ludhiana, Khanna, Jagraon and Ambala, including the house of an assistant town planner (ATP) of municipal corporation and properties of two business units dealing with bridal garments.

Teams of about 200 I-T officers from Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Srinagar were part of the operation, besides as many police officials. The department has so far sealed 10 lockers in the entire operation.

Sources said the team, led by an assistant director-level officer, raided the house of ATP in BRS Nagar around 11.30am. Though the I-T officers were tight-lipped about the action, sources said the department was suspicious of ATP and his brother amassing black money and disproportionate assets. His brother is also employed with MC as inspector and both live in the same house.

Despite repeated attempts, the ATP could not be contacted for comments.

In the other action, teams conducted raids on showrooms, offices and homes of bridal studios in Ghumar Mandi and on Ferozepur Road. Apart from these locations, the department also raided the properties, including houses and showrooms, of both these groups in Khanna, Jagraon and Ambala. Sources said both the groups have an estimated turnover of close to Rs 100 crore and I-T action comes on the suspicion of suppression of sales and evasion of tax. One studio has main branch in Ludhiana and the other in Jagraon.

As of now there was no surrender of black money from any of the parties. Along with taking into possession several documents and computerised accounting records, the department has also sealed 10 lockers. The search operation was on till the filing of this report. It is likely to continue on Thursday and Friday as well.