Income tax officials from Delhi on Sunday raided several properties in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal and Indore which were linked to Praveen Kakkar, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Searches are underway in Goa and 35 locations in Delhi. Around 300 I-T officials are involved in the raids across three states, ANI reported.
The raids were conducted simultaneously at private residences of Kakkar and Kamal Nath's other aides, at Bhopal's Platinum Plaza building's sixth floor, and at an office in Nadir Colony in Vijaynagar area of Indore, informed sources told IANS.
The MP CM’s former advisor, Rajendra Kumar Miglani, was also raided in connection with an alleged hawala case in New Delhi’s Green Park area. The premises of some executives linked to Mr Miglani's brother-in-law's firm Moser Baer and his nephew Ratul Puri in Noida were also raided, reports NDTV. Ratul Puri was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi last week in connection with the probe into the AgustaWestland chopper scam. Puri has denied any wrongdoing.
According to reports, the raids started around 3 am on Sunday and were carried out by a team of I-T sleuths from Delhi which was accompanied by CRPF personnel. Visuals put out by news agency ANI showed huge amounts of cash in suitcases.
Quoting sources, NDTV reported that an amount of Rs 9 crore has been seized. I-T sources told PTI that documents seized during the searches were being scrutinised in detail.
Reports stated that I-T officials have accused the two men of making cash transactions via hawala route during the election season.
Praveen Kakkar is a former officer of the Madhya Pradesh Police. He has also been conferred the Rashtrapati Award. He has previously served as OSD to former Union Minister Kantilal Bhuria. Kakkad's family is associated with a number of businesses, including hospitality.
(With IANS inputs)
(This is a developing story)