Income Tax Dept. raids on Builder Paradise Group; Seized incriminating documents and currency of Rs.2000 in crores

The Income Tax officials raided a renowned Navi Mumbai real estate developer and builder, seizing several crores in Rs 2,000 notes. While the IT department remained tight-lipped about the surveys, sources said Manish Bathija’s office, the managing director of famous Navi Mumbai developer Paradise Group, was among those searched.

Incriminating papers, ledgers, and cash deposit ledgers were seized during the operation, which primarily targeted police officers and officials with ‘benami’ assets. The raids began on Monday morning and lasted until late Wednesday evening.

GST violations and Tax Evasion detected

A top tax officer said, “During the investigation, major real estate developers were found to be engaging in GST violations, tax evasion, and hawala transactions.” The real estate group in issue was reportedly implicated in a Rs.1,761-crore fraud in which the Raigad collector’s office allegedly conspired.

In 2018, then-CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered a judicial enquiry into discrepancies in land distribution to project-affected farmers of the Koyna dam near the projected Navi Mumbai airport.

Even before the property was transferred, the builder obtained the power of attorney of the project’s impacted farmers.

Detectives discover that MD Bathija is custodian of Black Money

According to reports, the IT department has learned that Bathija is the keeper of certain prominent police officers and officials’ illegal money.

Income Tax officers stormed the home of Tanaji Satre, former Divisional Commissioner of Konkan area, earlier on Tuesday.

After retiring, the IAS official worked as an advisor for Paradise Group.