The Mumbai unit of the Income Tax Department on Friday morning launched raids at around 50 places linked to Pushpraj “Pumpy” Jain, an MLC who launched “Samajwadi Itra” last month.
Story of 2P Jains: After name mix-up, raids at ‘Samajwadi Itra’ producer’s locations
Sources said that raids are going on across India as investigations are underway into a big case of tax evasion. Pushpraj’s name came into limelight after he was found involved with a UP-based businessman Piyush Jain, who was sent to judicial custody after over Rs 194 crore in cash, 26 kg of gold and huge amount of sandalwood oil.
Both Pushpraj and Piyush have the same initial and the same surname as Jain. They come from the same neighbourhood, Jain Gali in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh. Both are in the same business of perfumery, and their names often come up in a tight election campaign.
Drug Controller General of India teams along with Pumpy Jain are raiding factories and houses of another famous perfume maker Malik Mian, an official said. The raids started at seven in the morning from houses located in Mandai and Chhupatti areas of Sadar Kotwali of Kannauj. Officials said that apart from Kannauj, raids are also being conducted in Noida and Kanpur.
Sources said that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is set to hold a press conference in Kannauj, and Pushpraj Jain is likely to accompany him. The SP president was scheduled to visit Pampi’s residence during his visit to the city on Friday. The area has found itself in political speeches since the raid on Piyush Jain’s residence.
As soon as Akhilesh Yadav announced the press conference in Kannauj, the BJP government started raiding the place of SP MLC Pampi Jain. The fear and anger of BJP is clear. People are ready to teach a lesson to BJP.
Attacking the IT department and other central agencies, senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav said, “These agencies don’t do any work during elections and are put on election duty. The raids are a party to his electoral work. Why are they conducting raids during election season? Wasn’t Pampi Jain in the country before the election?”
According to sources, the Income Tax Department started searches at Adijin Perfumes Pvt Ltd in Malad West at around 12 noon. They are said to be the directors of the company Pushpraj Jain and Aarti Jain.