NEWS
SCHEDULES
COLUMNS
PREVIOUS TOURS
OTHER SPORTS
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

IT officials claim rich haul

Josy Joseph in Delhi

Astronomical figures of undisclosed assets are spilling into the open in countrywide raids on cricketers, bookies and cricket administrators.

S C Parija, Director General of Investigations, Income-Tax Department, said raiding parties had got documents indicating concealment of income, bank accounts and properties.

Sources in the I-T Department told rediff.com that they recovered documents, showing the purchase of over 100 acres of prime land in and around the city, from the residence of a Delhi-based cricketer.

"These purchases run into millions," the official said.

In Delhi, where five cricketers and several bookies are being raided, the department sealed 12 lockers and seized several bundles of documents.

"Our raids have been successful; we got documentary evidence for the pre-raid information we had," said another I-T official.

"In 60 days, we will have to make an appraisal notice and submit it to the assessment officer. He will issue notices to the various parties, asking them to file a block return on their income for 10 years," Parija said.

He added: "Until the I-T Department confronts these individuals with evidence, we cannot say that this is concealed income. We are only concerned about undisclosed income. If we find any evidence to link the bookies and players, and any another evidence, we will pass it on to the CBI and other agencies.

"The I-T department has got incriminating documents, and evidence of large-scale purchase of properties, undisclosed businesses, huge transfer of money and costly gifts."

He refused to provide information about any player or bookie, as they had immunity from disclosure.

The premises of Mukesh Gupta, the bookie named by Hansie Cronje in his submission before the King Commission, are also being raided. Besides, the brother-sister duo of Ratan and Mona Mehta were also raided. Their father, a one-time drug smuggler, now runs a restaurant at Vasant Vihar.

Parija denied that the residences of Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar were raided, but added: "If we get definite information and a confirmation, we will go ahead with the raids."

Parija said the department is continuing with the verification of more people. "Even today, we have sent out decoys to various places. But I cannot say if we will raid anyone else soon." He added that his department is yet to recover documents from any premise showing foreign remittances.

Related report: IT-CBI joint raids on cricketers, officials