Bhubaneswar: The Income Tax (I-T) Department continued searches at six different places, including property linked to a coaching institute founded by BJD leader Subrat Chhatoi, for the second consecutive day on Tuesday on allegations of tax evasion.
According to sources, raids are underway by 10 teams of the I-T department sleuths at various places, including Chhatoi’s residence, in Bhubaneswar and a hotel in Jajpur. It is being suspected that the coaching institute avoided paying tax liability by showing huge loses and bogus expenditure, and invested ill-gotten money in the hotel.
Raids on the coaching institute began at 4am on Monday and the premises of its senior and key employees like directors and account officers were also searched.
The timing of the raid on Chhatoi has raised eyebrows in certain circles as he is said to be linked to an important BJD leader who is contesting the elections.
In March 2023, a team of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) had also conducted multiple raids at various centres of the private coaching institute, which provides coaching for IAS, OAS, UPSC and other competitive examinations, on similar allegations. It has branches in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Balasore, Rourkela and Kolkata.
