Bokaro, March 26: Income tax sleuths raided the premises of former Bokaro Congress MLA Israel Ansari, his relatives and aides, most of whom are coal merchants and transporters, in Maoist-hit Gomia, about 60km from Bokaro steel city, on Monday.

According to sources, the Congress leader, his kin and associates have come under the scanner for reportedly siphoning crores of rupees from coal collieries and amassing huge property while evading tax. The raids, which were conducted at the order of director, investigations, income tax department, Patna, Ajay Kumar and additional-director, investigations, Ranchi, A.K. Srivastav, started around 6am and were on till the filing of the report.

More than 42 sleuths, including two women, divided themselves into nine teams and led by officials from Ranchi, Dhanbad and other places conducted raids at nine places simultaneously while armed district policemen kept watch. The team first targeted the house and office of Ansari at Jhirki and Jarangdih, respectively, where CCL mines are located. They also raided the residences of his brother Mohammad Rasool Baksh near Jarangdih and nephew Mohammad Saluddin in Kathara. Other relatives and associates whose properties were raided are Mohammad Shakil, Mohammad Rahamtulla, Santan Singh, Ajay Singh and Chotu Miyan.

The sleuths seized several files, challans and payments vouchers and names of parties with whom coal transactions were done and payment received. Hundreds of bank account passbooks in different names were also seized.

“The income tax department conducted an assessment of the coal trading business of these people about a few weeks ago. It was found that they had a turnover of more than Rs 50 crore, but paid hardly a few thousand per month as tax,” a source said.

Ajay Kumar confirmed about the income tax raids, but refused to divulge details. “The raids are still on. It will not be wise to say anything now, but the exercise is proving to be successful,” he added.