IT sleuths found Rs 6.21 lakh, 'satisfied' with Rakibul's explation

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 17: Income Tax sleuths and Election Commission's expenditure observers found Rs 6.21 lakh at State Agriculture minister Rakibul Hussain's Guwahati residence, but officials said the cash was not seized as the search team was "satisfied" with the minister's "explation".

Top official sources told The Sentinel that another Rs 5 lakh was found at the premises of one Syed Ali Hazarika, the minister's neighbor. But that amount was also not seized as the owner could convince the raid team.

The raid, led by Income Tax sleuths, was launched at FA Ahmed Road in Panjabari area of the city last evening based on "specific information" and as per "procedure" and "protocol", the sources said. The search at Hussain's residence continued till the wee hours of Thursday.

"There was a specific input that cash was stashed at a house in the area," the officials said.

At a press conference later, Rakibul Hussain said that the search team had a search warrant against his wife's me. "We cooperated with the team," he added.

The expenditure observers operate directly under the Election Commission of India and they do not have to report to the State's Chief Electoral Officer.

Alleging that the search team did not follow laid down norms while conducting the raid, Hussain claimed that not a single paper was "seized" from his residence.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday condemned the 'raid' at Hussain's private residence, alleging it was "politically motivated".

"It is politically motivated. It exposes the Central government's attitude towards the Opposition," Gogoi told mediapersons here.

"It also exposes the Centre's policy to defame the Opposition. The raid was conducted before the assembly polls. They did not find anything from his house. It is politically motivated to defame the Congress," said Gogoi.