Raids at 16 locations linked to AAP minister Gahlot

The Income Tax department on Wednesday conducted searches at 16 locations linked to Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot in the national capital and Gurugram, after which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a public apology from him.

The raids were conducted at Brisk Infrastructure and Developers Ltd & Corporate International Financial Services, among other locations linked to the minister, income tax sources said.

Besides, his residential quarters in Vasant Kunj and Defence Colony, offices and residences in Paschim Vihar, Najafgarh and Laxmi Nagar were also searched.

Sources said that the searches on his premises were part of tax evasion probe against the firms after several instances of under-reporting of profits were noticed

Modi apology

Kejriwal sought an apology from Modi for "constantly troubling" the AAP government.

"Friendship with Nirav Modi and Mallya and raid on us? Modiji you conducted raids on me, Satyendar and Manish; what happened to those (raids). Nothing was found.

"So before you go ahead with another raid, at least apologise to Delhi people for troubling their elected government," Kejriwal tweeted.

Aam Aadmi Party also termed the raids as "political vendetta".

"It's clear why Kailash Gahlot is facing Income Tax raids. Modi and (Amit) Shah want illegal and unconstitutional disqualification of 20 MLAs, whose legal battle was being led by Gahlot.

"He also oversaw the successful implementation of doorstep delivery scheme despite efforts to derail it by the BJP," said AAP leader Atishi in a press briefing.