Multi-state search op by I-T dept, Panaji, to hunt evaders

Panaji: The income tax (I-T) department, Panaji, conducted a search of multiple businesses in Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu for allegedly evading taxes. I-T sleuths seized unaccounted cash, gold jewellery, and silver articles worth Rs 18 crore. The department began the search on Tuesday morning. Thirty teams were constituted for the operation.
Searches are being conducted by the department on multiple businesses: Mining, hospitals, sugar factories, and real estate.The I-T department in Goa, which has jurisdiction over Goa, Belagavi, Bijapur and Bagalkot, developed intelligence and searched the residences of key persons involved in these businesses, hospitals, offices, corporate offices, and factories, among other places.
During the search, the department found violations such as separation of sales, bogus purchases, and non-deduction of tax deducted at source (TDS), among others. It seized unaccounted cash worth Rs 10 crore, along with gold jewellery and silver articles, totalling Rs 18 crore.
Searches will continue for a few more days to unearth more violations. Recently, the I-T department, Panaji, conducted a search on a prominent Goa and Bengaluru-based liquor group across the country. It searched 28 locations across the country, including Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Pondicherry, and Delhi.
Searches were conducted at office premises, bottling units, manufacturing units, and residences of key persons involved in the business.