Income Tax raids in Jamshedpur, evidence links ‘Hawala Money’ to politics

Jamshedpur: The Income Tax Department, acting on information regarding the use of hawala money during Jharkhand’s assembly elections, has expanded its raids across the state. On Sunday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids in Saraikela and Jamshedpur, increasing the total number of locations raided from 24 to 35 since Friday.

Evidence of hawala funds being linked to political activities has surfaced during the raids, which began on Friday across multiple districts, including Jamshedpur, Giridih, and Ranchi. Raids at the properties of the Rishu Chirania Group in Ranchi and the Rakesh Barnwal Group in Giridih concluded late Saturday night. Meanwhile, key documents and fresh leads were uncovered during the Saturday night raid at the Bhalotia Group’s locations in Jamshedpur.

In response to the new evidence, senior officials from the Income Tax Department arrived in Jamshedpur late Saturday. Eight additional teams of Income Tax officers were dispatched from Ranchi to Jamshedpur to follow up on the new leads. Initial investigations suggest that new locations connected to the Bhalotia Group have been identified, prompting the department to widen the scope of the raids.

The newly arrived teams will be conducting fresh raids at these identified locations, continuing the department’s intensified crackdown on financial irregularities linked to the hawala network. As the investigation progresses, the Income Tax Department is expected to further expand its reach in the coming days.