UP Elections 2022 | Tax raids on Akhilesh Yadav aides, SP leader says have no black money

As Uttar Pradesh gears up for election early next year, there were Income Tax raids at the premises of two Samajwadi Party leaders, both of whom are considered to be close aide of the Opposition party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Reports said the Income Tax sleuths came knocking at the door of Samajwadi Party leader Rajeev Rai, and conducted searches at his premises in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau. Reports said Rajeev Rai owns a chain of schools in Karnataka.

Reacting to the raid, Rajeev Rai told ANI that the government will make a case out of anything. "I have no criminal background or black money. I help people and the government did not like it. This is a result of that. If you do anything, then they will make a video, register an FIR and you will fight a case unnecessarily," the SP leader said.

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Apart from Rajiv Rai, the premises of RCL Group promoter Manoj Yadav in Samajwadi Party bastion Mainpuri were also raided.

According to a Hindustan Times report, quoting sources in the Income Tax department, several raids were being conducted at various places in Uttar Pradesh.