NEW DELHI: The income tax department identified more than 400 benami transactions up to May 23 and immovable properties were attached in 40 cases valued at over Rs 530 crore as the authorities stepped up their fight against black money.
Sources said 200 other properties were also identified as part of an ambitious crackdown on benami assets. They added that searches were conducted on 10 senior government officials during the past one month. Provisional attachment of properties, a precursor to final attachment, was done in more than 240 cases and the market value of these properties was estimated at more than Rs 600 crore, the tax department said in a statement.
The drive against benami transactions includes deposits in bank accounts, plots of land, flats and jewellery. The tax authorities have also set up 24 dedicated benami prohibition units across the country for better implementation of the Benami Act. Immovable properties have been attached in Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. In one case, in Jabalpur, the benamidar, a driver, was found to be the owner of land worth Rs 7.7 crore.
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