In a major crackdown on alleged tax evasion, the Income Tax Department carried out extensive search and seizure operations at more than 20 locations across Nagpur on Saturday. The coordinated action was primarily directed against supari (betel nut) traders, with officials suspecting large-scale tax evasion and unaccounted transactions linked to the trade.
According to sources, the raids began early in the morning and were underway at multiple business and residential premises, including key locations in the Maskasath and Itwari areas. Several teams of the Income Tax Department were deployed simultaneously to prevent the movement or destruction of documents and digital evidence.
Officials said the operation is part of a broader investigation into discrepancies between declared income and actual turnover of supari traders operating in Nagpur and nearby regions. Financial records, electronic devices, cash transactions, and other relevant documents are being scrutinised to ascertain the scale of alleged tax evasion.
This is the first major Income Tax raid conducted in Nagpur in 2026. However, similar actions were carried out last year as well, when the department had conducted searches at multiple commercial establishments linked to trading, logistics, and processing units. In 2025, Income Tax officials had unearthed several cases involving unreported income, cash dealings, and violations of tax norms during raids on traders dealing in agricultural produce and allied commodities.
Sources within the department indicated that the current operation is a continuation of last year’s enforcement drive, aimed at strengthening compliance and curbing the circulation of black money in the local trading ecosystem. The supari trade, which involves large cash transactions and interstate movement of goods, has remained under the scanner of tax authorities for some time.
While no official statement has been issued so far regarding the exact amount of undisclosed income detected, officials confirmed that the operation is ongoing and further details will be shared after the completion of searches and preliminary assessments.
The raids have created a stir in the trading community of Itwari and surrounding areas, with heightened security and restricted movement observed near the affected premises throughout the day.
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