Crores seized in I-T raid conducted in Kolkata and Siliguri

Just ahead of Durga Puja, one of the most celebrated events in Bengal, the income tax department today raided several places in Kolkata and Siliguri. The move came after the I-T department received a couple of intimations from several agencies.

The IT officials had seized cash in tunes of several crores stocked in the offices and business premises run y accused companies and agencies, reported The Economic Times.

If reports are to be believed, the recovered cash was scheduled to be sent to the Middle Eastern countries through a huge Hawala network.
Officials, further informed, "The racket used to be operated from Kolkata. We are yet to ascertain the motive of the money laundering. And we are investigating into the specific destination of the money laundered in the Middle East countries. However, we have got information that the transactions were made to offshore accounts."

Business ventures with illegal money transactions also came into light during the raids conducted today. Sources informed that retail shops with running a lottery business as another trade were also found.

The searches are primarily being conducted at the offices located on Sarat Bose road in South Kolkata where Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police is also present.

The raids started early in the morning and other teams who actively joined-in, conducted the raids at the shops in Subhas market area in Siliguri.
Image: indiatimes