Opening of sealed bank lockers begins today

Opening of sealed bank lockers begins today
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JULY 23: Following "successful" completion of searches at premises of top cricketers, board officials and bookies across the country, Income Tax authorities are set to initiate process of opening bank lockers sealed during the search operations from tomorrow.

The I-T sources said nearly 60 bank lockers, including 13 in Delhi, 10 in Mumbai, two in Patiala and the rest in other places were sealed during the searches, codenamed `Operation Gentleman' at the premises of people connected with cricketing world.

The department, besides opening lockers to ascertain their contents, would analyse the huge volume of documents and other materials seized from the premises of payers, cricket administrators and bookies.

``We are planning to do it faster'', said a top I-T official adding that task of opening the lockers would be completed in a week as few of the cricketers, whose premises were raided, are out of station and their presence was essential.

While `panchnaama' (list of recoveries) will be prepared soon after opening lockers, property valuation and preparation of inventory of assets in each case would be completed in next two to three months.

An appraisal report would be prepared by the assessing officer on basis of this information within 60 days and notice served on assessee to file ``block assessment'' for ten-year period 1990-2000.

Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who is in London, has conveyed to I-T authorities his intention to return to Hyderabad where his valuables have been sealed.

Azharuddin, who is scheduled to play a one-dayer at Oval in london on July 29, may ``prepone'' his return by a few days.

I-T officials in Mumbai had earlier said that department had unearthed "huge cash transactions in respect of investment in immovable property and evidence of lavish lifestyle" of a former India captain following the search operations launched on cricketers, their relatives, bookies and persons associated with the game.

Documents indicating strong movement of funds and withdrawal of cash for investments in property have been seized during search operations launched in eight premises in Mumbai, they said.

Besides national coach Kapil Dev, Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and former ICC chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, raids were carried out by the I-T along with CBI at premises of Nikhil Chopra, Navjot Singh Siddhu, Ajay Sharma and BCCI treasurer Kishore Rungta and Azharuddin's wife Sangeeta Bijlani and six bookies.

Simultaneous raids were conducted at 36 places in Delhi, five in Mumbai, three each in Ahmedabad and Patiala, two in Jaipur and a few others in Hyderabad and Calcutta.

Director General (Investigation) of Income Tax S C Parija said yesterday that the two-day searches yielded more clinching evidence of undisclosed income by some of the prominent players and documents than what the department had expected.