I-T searches at multiple locations in Mumbai, Pune on premises of individuals having links with Shiv Sena leaders

The Income Tax (I-T) department on Tuesday carried out searches at about 20 locations in Mumbai and Pune at the premises linked to people having association with Shiv Sena leaders. These premises that were being searched were linked to cable businessman Sadanand Kadam in Mumbai and Regional Transport Officer (RTO) officer Bajrang Kharmate in Pune and Rahul Kanal, a close confidant of Sena minister Aaditya Thackeray.

"Our searches are related to tax evasion matters. The seized documents and digital evidences will be examined to ascertain if there was any tax violation," said an I-T official.

Last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had recorded statements of Kharmate, former RTO officer from Wardha and state transport minister Anil Parab in connection with a money laundering case registered by the ED against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh. Kharmate is known to be a close aide to Parab. The ED had been probing the allegations of cash for transfer and postings in the RTO department.

I-T action came a week after the department searched the premises of Shiv Sena leader and corporator Yashwant Jadhav, who heads the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC’s) standing committee. After three days of raids at over 33 locations, the department alleged Jadhav, his associates, and some civic contractors have acquired three dozen immovable properties worth Rs 130 crore. The I-T sleuths also claimed that the contractors involved are suspected to have evaded income of about Rs 200 crore.