I-T department conducts searches at residence of Shiv Sena leader Yeshwant Jadhav

The Income Tax (IT) Department conducted searches at premises linked to Shiv Sena leader Yeshwant Jadhav and his wife MLA Yamini Jadhav on Friday morning.

The Income Tax (IT) Department Investigation wing conducted searches at premises linked to Shiv Sena leader Yeshwant Jadhav and his wife MLA Yamini Jadhav on Friday morning. Yeshwant Jadha is also the chairman of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Standing Committee.

Searches were also carried out at residences of Jadhav's close aides and some BMC contractors.

Jadhav is one of the most powerful Shiv Sena leaders in the BMC. Being the Standing Committee chairman, he gives final approval for major financial proposals tabled in the BMC. He has been under the scanner of the Income Tax (IT) Department since 2019.

Earlier, the I-T department had written to the election commission of India for disqualification of MLA Yamini Jadhav over discrepancies in the election affidavit filed by her in the 2019 state elections.

During an investigation last year, the Income Tax Department had found discrepancies related to some transactions with a Kolkata-based shell company.

This company was allegedly used to launder money to the tune of Rs 15 crore to Yamini Yashwant Jadhav, her husband Yashwant Jadhav and other family members.

The findings were highlighted by the I-T Department after the Election Commission of India demanded election affidavit verification as per the Standard Operating Procedure.