I-T raids at 40 places in Jharkhand & Bihar belonging to rice miller

Ranchi: The income tax (I-T) department carried out raids on Thursday on 40 premises of the Baba Agro Food Limited and the Baba Food Processing India Limited, their owners and associates in Jharkhand and Bihar, suspecting a massive tax evasion by them.In addition, the I-T teams also carried out operations against the paddy traders who purchase from farmers. The teams have so far tracked 15 people for violation of I-T rules, sources said.The sources added that the raids were continuing till evening and that they could go on for some more days. Officials, however, did not reveal if there were seizures on the first day.According to the sources, the operations were carried out by the I-T department’s Ranchi investigation wing at about 20 places in Ranchi and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, apart from at different premises in Aurangabad, Gaya and Patna in Bihar. The premises and offices of the companies, their owners, Yogesh Sahu and Gyan Sahu, and their associates were under scrutiny.It is learnt that over 450 personnel, including I-T officials, 15 forensic science laboratory teams, CRPF and local police were involved in the raids on Thursday.The sources said during such raids, the teams inquire into the properties of companies and their owners, unaccounted wealth, utilisation of black money and several other aspects. Specific details would be revealed later on, the sources added.Baba Agro Food Limited produces rice while Baba Food Processing India Limited makes white flour. The Baba Group is the largest rice producer of Jharkhand.