The Income Tax department has attached properties worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore allegedly linked to Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and his family.
Five properties including Nirmal Tower (Rs 25 crore) at Mumbai's Nariman Point, a cooperative sugar factory (Rs 600 crore), a flat in South Delhi (Rs20 crore) and a resort in Goa (Rs 250 crore) were seized.
These are figures tweeted by chartered accountant Kirit Somaiya, who is a former BJP MP.
Income Tax attached Properties of Ajit Pawar
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) November 2, 2021
1. Jarandeshwar sugar factory
₹600 crore
2. South Delhi flat ₹20 crores
3. Nirmal office of Parth pawar
₹25 crores
4. Goa Resort "Nilaya" of ₹250 crores @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/jObd05BNde
NDTV reports that IT dept officials say that Ajit Pawar and his family are the beneficiaries of Benami properties, and that the Anti-Benami Act has been invoked as they referred to the allegations that the properties were bought illegally.
This recent development comes a month after the IT department conducted raids at the houses and companies of Pawar's sisters.
The premises linked to business groups such as DB Realty, Shivalik, Jarandeshwar Sahkari Sugar Karkhana (Jarandeshwar SSK) and businesses linked to Pawar's sisters were covered under the operation.
Unaccounted income worth Rs184 crore were reportedly discovered during the raid last month, but Pawar insisted that "all entities linked to me have paid taxes".
Former Union Minister Sharad Pawar had slammed the BJP over last month's searches linked to his nephew, saying that it was a "misuse of power".
- With inputs from PTI
