IT searches across Gujarat at premises linked to political parties

Ahmedabad: The Income Tax Department has launched a major crackdown across Gujarat, targeting lesser-known political parties suspected of laundering black money through bogus donations.

Searches are being conducted at over 24 locations, including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Junagadh, focusing particularly on Bharatiya National Janata Dal chief Sanjay Vitthalbhai Gajera. Investigators are tracing suspicious transactions reportedly worth crores. The searches are also taking place at premises linked to the National Congress Party (NCP).

The state-wide operation on Wednesday, aimed at curbing tax evasion disguised as political contributions, marks a shift from earlier raids that primarily targeted donors to now focusing on the recipients of such questionable funds.

Officials reportedly seized documents, assets, and mobile data while probing what they allege is a large-scale donation-for-cash laundering network.

Simultaneous raids in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Junagadh suggest a widespread nexus of small political parties allegedly used for tax evasion. Sources say the alleged modus operandi involved routing donations via cheque payments to these parties, which then returned a significant portion in cash after deducting a commission. The ongoing probe could expose crores of unaccounted political funding in Gujarat.

The searches have sent shockwaves through Gujarat’s political circles. While the Income Tax Department has yet to issue an official statement, sources confirm that serious financial irregularities and potential breaches of electoral funding rules are under investigation. DeshGujarat