Income Tax dept raids seafood firm, ex-MLA’s properties in Odisha over tax evasion allegations

The Income Tax Department officials on Thursday raided the house and office of former Champua MLA Jitu Patnaik at various places on the charges of evading tax.

Officers of the department carried out simultaneous raids at the ex-legislator’s house near Sai temple at Joda and mines office at Baneikala Square.

However, no reaction from Patnaik could be obtained in this regard.

Meanwhile, the officials of the department conducted simultaneous raids on Falcon Marine Exports Pvt Ltd and its other group companies on charges of tax evasion. The raids are currently underway at nine branches of the company in Bhubaneswar and Balasore.

The officials are also conducting raids on the residential and office premises of the company authorities at various places.

The raid started at around 6 am in Bhubaneswar by 15 officials. The officials are checking various documents of the company and the raid is likely to continue throughout the day.

In another such incident, a leaseholder of Mayurjhalia mines under Ranpur block in Nayagarh district was arrested on charges of illegal mining.

The leaseholder has been identified as Sushant Barad. Sushant was arrested during a joint operation by a special squad and police during a GST raid on Wednesday night.

Complaints were filed against Sushant and nine others in the alleged mining scam.