INCOME Tax Department carried out a major search operation in Jabalpur, Katni and Satna in con nection with cases related to dis proportionate assets and sus pected tax evasion early morn ing on Wednesday. Teams from Indore and Bhopal simultane ously raided the residences and business premises of mining businessmen Rajiv Chaddha and Nitin Sharma in Jabalpur’s Civil Lines and Russell Chowk areas. Interestingly, when the Income Tax team arrived at Rajiv Chaddha’s Civil Lines residence, their vehicle displayed a poster reading “Swachhta Awareness Campaign 2025”. This initially led the house watchman to believe that a municipal survey team had arrived.

 

However, it soon became clear that it was an Income Tax search operation. During the raids, officials recovered several documents from the residences, particular ly from Nitin Sharma’s house, which are currently under detailed scrutiny. Officials believe the investigation could reveal large-scale tax evasion and undisclosed financial transac tions. According to sources, the Income Tax Department had received complaints against Rajiv Chaddha and his associates regarding alleged tax irregulari ties. Acting on these inputs, coor dinated raids were conducted at multiple locations in Jabalpur, Katni and Satna.

 

In Katni, the Income Tax Department also raided the premises of District Panchayat Vice President and BJP leader Ashok Vishwakarma, along with the residences and business loca tions of his three brothers. Searches were carried out at their homes in Jalpa Ward, their firm premises, and bauxite mining sites located in Tikariya and Singhanpuri villages. Vishwakarma operates a mining firm named VMC Vishwakarma Mines. The searches are reportedly linked to allegations of dispro portionate assets, tax evasion and illegal financial dealings. The Income Tax Department is con tinuing its examination of doc uments and no official statement has been issued so far regarding the findings of the raids as scruti ny of documents was continued till late evening.