Tax officials deny any motive behind raids in Tamil Nadu

The ETA Star Group is considered a main competitor for the Gautham Adani group in mining sector. Highly placed sources told DTNext that the group has been competing with Adani, who is reportedly closer to Prime Minister’s office, to secure mining contracts. 

The Income Tax department, which has been continuing raids at the groups various premises across Tamil Nadu are yet to come out with the seizure details during the raids. Except for unverifiable reports suggesting seizure of incriminating documents that point toward large scale tax evasion, no unaccounted cash or gold seizure has officially been confirmed. 

According to IT officials, ETA Group, which has several mines in countries like Indonesia, has come under the scanner for dubious foreign investments. The IT sleuths are also looking at the large investments company has got in its real estate sector in Tamil Nadu. 

“It seems that the department is targeting the company for their capacity to compete with Adani group. There are so many companies where crores worth investments come from politicians and bureaucrats. Why the Income Tax department, which has collected the details about large scale tax evasion by Gautam Adani much earlier, is not raiding his premises?” a person close to ETA Star group said. Many believe that the continuing raids are the BJP’s political arm-twisting to keep the state government at its disposal. 

However, when contacted a senior IT official said it was unfortunate to connect the raids with political intentions. “There could have been times when the department was used for settling political scores. But there is nothing political behind the raids that are happening in Tamil Nadu now. We heard it first time when we raided the Chief Secretary’s house and office. But no official will have the guts to raid such a senior official if they have no material evidence on hand,” the official added.