The raids were conducted under the supervision of assistant commissioner of police (crime) Lalit Godbole and other police officers. But no incriminating documents could be found, sources said. The crime branch officials also met Thane mayor Pramod Rajput and reportedly recorded his statement in connection with the case.

On Friday, the crime branch had arrested two senior Shiv Sena leaders in the TMC -- leader of the house Gopal Landge and deputy mayor Naresh Manera in connection with the octroi evasion.

Landge and Manera were arrested along with the corporator Mahadeep Bist alias Munna (an independent supported by Sena) and leader of theopposition Manoj Shinde (Congress), and a businessmen in connection with evasion of octroi duty amounting to Rs 27,000.

The Thane special judge D N Bargende on Saturday remanded Landge, Shinde and three octroi clerks of the corporation, Vilas Saluke, Rajendra Gosavi, and Hindurao Harale to police custody till August 4. In his order, the judge said the police custody would help the police to carry out proper investigations. The same day, the Shiv Sena expelled Landge and Manera from the party for their alleged involvement in the racket. No police complaint has so far been registered by the Thane civic commissioner about the threats reportedly issued to him.

However, Manera, Bist and a transporter Arvind Parekh were today granted bail by Justice Bargende. The judge observed that as there had been no substantial progress in the investigations, there was no need to keep the arrested accused in custody.