I-T raids on businessmen, leaders close to SP & RJD

The Income-Tax department on Monday conducted more than two dozen raids at the residences of some businessmen with political links and also those of a few politicians in Delhi-NCR. The raids were on till the time of going to the press.

Sources in the I-T Department said that raids were being carried out against businessmen and leaders associated with two political parties — Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal.

However senior I-T officers remained tight-lipped. Despite repeated attempts, the Directorate General of Income-Tax (Intelligence & Criminal Investigation) refused to comment on the raids.

Sources, however, said that hundreds of I-T Department officials were roped in the operation. Later in the evening, another team of officers was sent to the same spots to continue searches in Delhi, Noida and Gurugram. A few places in Lutyens' Delhi are also being raided by the agency.