Income Tax Raids At Several Close Aides Of Akhilesh Yadav, SP Leader Calls It 'Unnecessary'

Several Income Tax raids are being conducted simultaneously in Uttar Pradesh at Samajwadi Party leaders' homes.

Image: AFP

Several Income Tax raids are being conducted on Saturday morning at the residences of various Samajwadi Party leaders. Houses of close associates of Akhilesh Yadav are being raided by the IT department.

News agency ANI reported that the Income Tax department conducted searches at various places in Uttar Pradesh. Premises of RCL Group promoter Manoj Yadav and his residence in Mainpuri and premises of Rajiv Rai in Mau, are some of the places where the IT Dept is conducting their raids. 

Income tax officers had reached the house of Manoj Yadav with a convoy of 12 vehicles. His entire house is surrounded by security forces. No one is allowed inside the house. Income Tax Department officials have been questioning people at home for more than two hours, as per sources. 

Mau: An Income Tax raid is underway at the residence of national secretary of Samajwadi Party (SP), Rajeev Rai.

Raids are underway at a few more locations at the premises of people of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/yJIDwC75qF

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 18, 2021

At the same time, raids are going on in the houses of many, including Jainendra Yadav alias Neetu, who is said to be close to Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow. Jainendra's house is located near Ambedkar Park in Lucknow.

A video from outside Rajeev Rai's house surfaced on Twitter:

IT raids across UP all related to @samajwadiparty. Party workers clash with IT officials. #UPElections2022 pic.twitter.com/1j8dYeuF7Y

— Afroz Alam🏴‍☠️ (@AfrozJournalist) December 18, 2021

The Income Tax Department has also raided the house of SP spokesperson Rajeev Rai. "This is IT dept. I've no criminal background or black money. I help people & Govt didn't like it. This is a result of that. If you do anything, they'll make a video, register an FIR, you'll fight a case unnecessarily. There is no use let procedure complete," Rai told ANI.