IT Dept attaches Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's properties worth Rs 1,000 cr
Mumbai/IBNS: The Income Tax Department has seized Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his family members' assets worth Rs 1,000 crore, media reports said.
The seized properties included Nirmal Tower at Mumbai's iconic Nariman Point, a sugar factory and a resort, NDTV reported citing sources.
The IT Department said Ajit Pawar and his family are "beneficiaries of the above Benami properties".
The confiscations were made under Anti-Benami Act as they referred to the allegations that the properties were bought illegally.
Tax searches were conducted at Pawar's sister house last month.
Pawar has said that all entities linked to him have regularly paid taxes.
"We pay taxes every year. Since I am the Finance Minister, I am aware of the fiscal discipline. All entities linked to me have paid taxes," the 62-year-old NCP leader had told reporters last month.
"I am upset because (premises of) my sisters, who got married 35 to 40 years ago, have been raided. If they were raided as Ajit Pawar's relatives, then people must think about it...the way the agencies are being (mis)used," he had commented, alleging misuse of probe agencies.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.