Sources say that while the cash has been recovered from the official and residential premises of Ratankant Sharma in Mumbai, the contents of his bank lockers in Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur are being scrutinised. The above sources added that some books, allegedly containing coded information on “payments of unaccounted cash made” by Sharma, have also been seized.
“These parallel entries, which basically contain details on unaccounted cash payments made, have been seized during the raids and the same are being studied. Prima facie, it looks to be a case of tax evasion and also certain benami transactions and once all the documents are studied, further action will be taken accordingly,” said an official privy to the developments.
“Maximum cash was seized from Sharma’s Mumbai premises. Currently, the lockers are being combed and certain documents which are incriminating in nature have also been seized,” the official added.
Sharma, is the former director of Mumbai-based Mayank Sharma Enterprises Pvt Ltd. He is also the director of Triton Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd which has been previously accused by the opposition party of having close links with Gehlot’s son and allegedly involved in money laundering. The ED had, last week, raided Hotel Fairmount in Jaipur where Congress MLAs are lodged. Sharma is an investor in the hotel.
The tax department is also looking at documents seized from the premises of the Om Kothari group.
Emails sent to both Mayank Sharma Enterprises and Om Kothari group didn’t elicit response until press time.