Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday feigned ignorance over the ongoing income tax raids, at 22 places in Delhi and Gurugram on charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to Lalu Prasad and others, saying unless there was clarity about the locations or the purpose, there was little he could say on the matter.
“Media reports have indicated that simultaneous raids were being carried by the IT department across 22 places. But where exactly is it taking place,” Kumar said, while emerging from the cabinet meeting, after being asked for his comment on the issue.
Kumar, who spent better part of the day attending a conference of vice chancellors at Raj Bhawan, said there was little information on what was happening or the purpose behind the action.
“Till the time there is more clarity on the issue, what can be said,” he asked.
The chief minister had set the temperature soaring on Monday when he broke his silence over the alleged acquisition of assets worth Rs 1,000 crore by RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family, through shell companies at throwaway prices.
“The matter relates to company affairs department and the Centre was competent to initiate action, if there is documentary evidence to warrant an inquiry,” he had said in the presence of Prasad’s son and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav after the conclusion of his weekly Lok Samvad programme.
{{/usCountry}}“The matter relates to company affairs department and the Centre was competent to initiate action, if there is documentary evidence to warrant an inquiry,” he had said in the presence of Prasad’s son and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav after the conclusion of his weekly Lok Samvad programme.
{{/usCountry}}Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav, however, maintained a stoic silence, avoiding media requests for comment on the ongoing raids.