Staff Reporter
Guwahati, Jan 30: Congress leader Pradyut Bhuyan today alleged that the income tax raid carried out at his residence was ‘politically motivated.’
Three groups of IT officials had searched Bhuyan’s residences at Guwahati and Nalbari and one of his business concerns at Gorchuk area. The search continued for 31 hours since yesterday.
There was no official word from the IT department, but Bhuyan, when contacted, said the move was to “embarrass” him and he felt that it was “politically motivated” as elections were near.
“It was a search of the highest level and senior officers of the IT department were involved. I failed to understand why the search was conducted only at my residences at Nalbari and Guwahati and at the stone crusher at Gorchuk. I have other business units, but they were not touched,” he said.
Bhuyan is one of the directors of Repose Foods Private Limited and has a hotel in the city. Besides, he also has other businesses. According to Bhuyan, the IT team found Rs 72,000 cash from his residences during the search.
“I have furnished all details of property I own. There is nothing which is not on record,” he added.
The Congress leader was defeated by BJP’s Ashok Sarma in the last Assembly elections. He is also a frontrunner for the Congress ticket in the upcoming polls. BJP’s Jayanta Mala Baruah is also seeking a ticket from the seat.
