I-T raids unearth `50 cr liquor trade by dubious companies

JAMSHEDPUR: Income Tax (IT) sleuths have stumbled upon a dubious business of procuring liquor shop licenses in the name of dummy owners by Syndicate Wine – a joint venture of liquor dealers in Jamshedpur. The department has seized over `1 crore in cash during its two-day raids at nine locations.

The raids were a result of IT officers detecting irregularities during their survey at the offices and residences of the syndicate members.

“We have seized over Rs 1 crore in cash and exact amount of tax evasion could be calculated after assessing the documents and data,” Vijay Kumar, deputy director of investigation told HT.

At least five teams of IT sleuths led by Kumar raided nine locations belonging to syndicate leaders Jogender Yadav, Rajendra Singh Bhatia alias Billu Bhatia, Nippon Mehta and Ramesh Mehta. Bhatia and the Mehtas jointly own 13 shops while Jogendra Yadav runs 10 shops.

The investigation wing has sealed about 50 bank accounts belonging to Bhatia, Mehtas and Yadav in the city while seizing documents for investments in real assets by Bhatia in Kolkata, Jamshedpur and Delhi and Mehta’s investment in Kolkata and Jamshedpur. Computers and hard discs have also been seized along with incriminating documents.

IT sources said the dummies were used to bend the state excise rule, which states that a person is eligible to apply for one license only.

“Most of the dummy candidates on whose names such huge number of shops has been obtained are drivers, cleaners, employees and friends.

This doesn’t look possible without active involvement of state excise department officials.

THE RAIDS WERE CONDUCTED WHEN INCOME TAX OFFICERS DETECTED IRREGULARITIES DURING SURVEY AT THEIR OFFICES