Sambalpur: Income Tax Raid at Late Health Minister Nabakishore Das’s House; Raids at 20 Locations Including Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bhubaneswar, Delhi

Raids Begin Early Morning

Sambalpur: On Thursday morning, the Income Tax Department conducted surprise raids on more than 20 locations linked to late former Odisha Health Minister Nabakishore Das. His residence in Sarabahal, Jharsuguda, along with properties in Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Sundargarh, and other places, were searched. These raids began at around 5 a.m. and continued until late in the evening.

Searches at Homes, Offices, and Businesses

The IT teams raided Das’s residences, business establishments, offices, and properties belonging to his close associates and family members. A 10-member IT team searched documents inside his house throughout the day. However, the department has not released any official statement about the findings yet.

Business Links Under Investigation

In 2023, it was found that Das’s son, Vishal Das, was a partner in four companies based in Jharsuguda’s Badmal area. These company links are reportedly under scrutiny, and the raids are believed to be connected to that. The IT department teams entered his house even before the family members woke up.

Past Raids Recalled

It is important to note that before the recent elections, Das’s residence had already been raided by the Income Tax Department. On Thursday, the officials also targeted other properties related to Das, including hotels and fuel businesses.

Raids in Sambalpur

As per reports from Sambalpur, IT teams raided hotels like Mandarine (Nikki) near VSS Marg and D-Lounge in Bhalupali around 4:30 a.m. Staff and management were not allowed to leave the premises during the raids. His house in Mudipada, Sambalpur, was also searched.

Focus on Biofuel and Coal Business

The investigation also focused on biofuel-related businesses in which his son had made significant investments. Moreover, homes of close associates like Bulu Bishwal and a mill owner in Rengali both linked to the coal trade were also raided. Reports suggest that Vishal Das and Bulu hold important positions in a shared company.

Tax Teams Examine Investment Documents

By 7:30 p.m., the raids were still underway. Earlier this year, the IT department had also raided the house of Nabakishore Das’s brother, Brajakishore Das, a well-known contractor. On Thursday, his property was searched again.

Sundargarh Business Associates Also Raided

On the other hand, IT officials also raided three properties of Sanjay Nanda, a business associate of Das and owner of Matarani Transport in Sundargarh. His residence on Mission Road, office at Medical Chhak, and workshop at Kandabahal were all searched. Over 20 officers arrived in eight vehicles from Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar to carry out the raids.

Coal Business at the Center

The raids focused heavily on documents related to the coal business. Although the investigation is ongoing, the operations suggest a detailed examination of financial activities linked to Das’s family and associates.