Mail News Service
Ranchi/Jamshedpur, Jan 29 : The Income Tax Department on Thursday carried out coordinated search operations at more than 15 premises linked to the Baba Rice Mill Group across Jharkhand, intensifying its probe into suspected tax evasion, dubious financial transactions, and alleged accumulation of assets beyond declared income.
In Ranchi, teams raided the group’s rice and flour milling unit located in the Bandheya area under the Piska Nagri police station. Officials conducted a detailed verification of machinery, stock registers, billing records, computer systems, and digital data. Parallel searches were also undertaken at another Baba Rice plant in the Bandh Toli area of Nagri.
Security was tightened at all locations, with movement in and out of the premises strictly regulated. In Jamshedpur, the department’s Investigation Wing searched a residential property on Circuit House Road No. 3 in the Bistupur police station area. The premises, identified as Bungalow No. 33C and reportedly linked to businessman Manoj Choudhary, saw officials scrutinising financial documents, bank accounts, and other key records.
Similar action was carried out in Hazaribagh, where multiple teams examined premises associated with the Baba Rice Mill Group and verified related documents. Police personnel were deployed at each site to ensure security during the operation.
According to sources, the department is analysing bank transactions, investments, and business accounts of the group in detail. The operation was executed under complete confidentiality, with even local police not informed in advance. The searches are expected to continue till late evening.
The sudden and extensive action has triggered concern and speculation within the state’s business circles.
