Income Tax department ‘surveys’ 6 premises linked to Sonu Sood in Maharashtra, UP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 15

Income Tax Department officials conducted “surveys” at six locations in Mumbai and Lucknow linked to Bollywood actor Sonu Sood.

Sources in the department said the recent deal between Sonu Sood’s company and a Lucknow-based real estate firm was under scanner. “The survey operation has been initiated on allegations of tax evasion,” said a senior I-T official. The raids, incidentally, come days after the Bollywood star had a high-profile meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who declared him the brand ambassador for his government’s mentorship programme for school students in the Capital. After the meeting, Sonu Sood had denied having any plans to take the plunge into politics. During the lockdown, the actor had won praise for doing charity work and helping migrant workers reach their respective villages.

Reacting to the raids, Kejriwal tweeted: “… truth always prevails. Sonu Sood has the blessings of lakhs of families whom he had helped during their difficult times.” BJP spokesperson Asif Bhamla called it a search, not a raid. “The I-T department is just doing its job,” he added.