Ajit Pawar (file photo)
Mumbai: The Income Tax Department has reportedly seized assets amounting to over Rs 1000 crore which is allegedly linked to Maharashtra Deputy-Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as well as several of his relatives, officials have informed. Five properties have been seized including Nirmal Towers in Mumbai as well as a co-operative sugar factory and resort. The action was taken by the IT department after discovering an unaccounted income of about ₹184 crores last month during the massive search operation.
Reports suggested that the Anti-Benami Act was invoked as most of the properties were supposedly purchased illegally. Last month, Minister Pawar had protested against the raid on properties belonging to his sisters, stating that he had no problem with the raids but that enforcement agencies should not be used to target his relatives.
"We pay taxes every year. Since I am [also] the Finance Minister, I am aware of fiscal discipline. All entities linked to me have paid taxes," he told reporters in October. Union Minister and NCP leader Sharad Pawar had also claimed that his nephew was being targeted unfairly due to criticism raised against the ruling BJP party on the issue of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Sharad Pawar alleged that he too was sent a notice by the Enforcement Directorate right before the elections in 2019, for a deal with a bank that he had never made. He said that such 'guests' (the ED) would not intimidate either him or his nephew.