In 'Rs 800 Cr Tax Fraud' Probe, IT Dept Raids SP Leader Azam Khan's Premises For Third Consecutive Day

The income tax authorities raided more than 30 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on September 13 as part of a tax evasion investigation against Khan.

SP Leader Azam Khan. ( Image Source :PTI )

The income tax department continued its raids in Uttar Pradesh on Friday against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and those close to him, suspecting him of tax fraud worth more than Rs 800 crore, according to official sources, news agency PTI reported. The scope of the probe by the I-T department expanded, with sleuths reaching the Public Works Department and district panchayat office, as well as Muhammad Ali Jauhar University, which is led by Khan, according to authorities. According to them, the government expenditure papers are being scrutinised since the lawmaker suspects around Rs 800 crore in tax cheating.

The income tax authorities raided more than 30 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on September 13 as part of a tax evasion investigation against Khan.

According to the sources, the I-T inquiry is connected to various trusts run by Khan and his family members, PTI reported.

The raids elicited a strong reaction from the Samajwadi Party, which pledged its support for Khan and accused the BJP administration of "dictatorship" and "misuse of central agencies."

STORY | Income Tax raids against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, aides enter third day, Rs 800 crore tax evasion suspected

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"Azam Khan saheb is the voice of truth. He laid the foundation for a better future for children and built a university for education,” the party said in a post on X following the raids on Wednesday.

“Khan has always fought against communal forces. We all stand united with his voice,” it said.

In response to claims of misuse of government agencies, BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya stated that the central agencies were completely within their rights to take action in order to create "Bharat corruption-free."

Khan was convicted last year in a hate speech case stemming from a comment he made at a public assembly in Khatanagaria village in the Milak Kotwali district in 2019.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and was disqualified as a Rampur MLA as a result. He was later acquitted by a higher court, but his disqualification was not lifted because of his conviction in another case.