Income Tax Raids at Kanha Restaurant Enter Third Consecutive Day
The investigation wing of the Income Tax Department in Jaipur has extended its extensive search operation at Rajasthan's renowned food chain, Kanha Restaurant, into a third consecutive day as of Friday. This high-profile raid, which commenced at approximately 7 am on Wednesday, is being conducted simultaneously across 33 locations spanning Rajasthan and Mumbai, marking a significant escalation in the department's scrutiny of the group's financial activities.
Widespread Searches and Substantial Recoveries
In Jaipur alone, searches are actively underway at 26 premises, underscoring the scale of the operation. To date, officials have recovered around Rs 1 crore in cash and jewellery valued at approximately Rs 5 crore. Additionally, they have identified 10 bank lockers linked to the Kanha Restaurant group. The process to open these lockers is currently in progress, with authorities anticipating the discovery of more undisclosed assets worth crores of rupees once access is gained.
An officer involved in the operation revealed, "An additional Rs 50 lakh and two more bank lockers were found during the searches, taking the total recovery to Rs 1 crore, jewellery worth Rs 5 crore, and 10 bank lockers." The details of the seizure will be formally disclosed only after the completion of all searches and a final assessment.
Concealed Strong Room and Ongoing Investigations
During the raids, officials made a startling discovery: a concealed strong room hidden inside a wall at one of the premises. Upon breaching this secret compartment, the team recovered jewellery worth an estimated Rs 5 crore, highlighting the sophisticated methods employed to hide assets.
The Income Tax teams are now conducting a meticulous examination of various financial records, including bank accounts, digital financial transactions, cash dealings, and property-related documents. Several crucial files and electronic data have been seized for further forensic analysis, with preliminary findings pointing to potential financial irregularities.
Another officer stated, "Now we are opening the bank lockers, in which we can get details of movable assets and papers of immovable assets. It is not yet concluded. We will disclose the final seizure only after concluding the searches." Further investigation remains ongoing as authorities delve deeper into the financial affairs of the Kanha Restaurant chain.
