Bhopal: Five days after income tax officers raided former BJP MLA Harvansh Singh Rathore’s bungalow in Madhya Pradesh over a disproportionate assets case, the forest department Friday evening rescued two crocodiles kept as pets on the property.
I-T officers who descended on the former Banda legislator’s residence in Sagar district in 10 vehicles early last Sunday were in for a surprise. They found not just gold, cash and luxury cars, but also crocodiles. Search operations were carried out both at Rathore’s premises, his brother Kuldeep’s and former BJP corporator Rajesh Kesharwani. Harvansh Singh Rathore is a beedi magnate who was elected as MLA from Banda in 2013.
According to sources in the Income Tax department, officers suspect a tax evasion of over 150 crore.
ThePrint reached Rathore for comment via calls but his number was unavailable.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, wildlife protection, L Krishnamoorthy told ThePrint, “After the issue (of the presence of crocodiles) was flagged by the Income Tax department team, our officers reached the premises and have so far recovered two crocodiles. Search is still underway.”
Forest department officials suspect there are at least two more crocodiles on Harvansh Singh Rathore’s property. Krishnamoorthy said that since the water body found on the premises is deep, it was difficult to ascertain exactly how many.
The forest department plans to release the crocodiles in the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary. A case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act is also set to be lodged against Harvansh Singh Rathore, Krishnamoorthy said.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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