Ahmedabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday carried out searches at 11 locations in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Gandhinagar in connection with a case of disproportionate assets (DA) registered against 2005-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former additional commissioner of the income tax, Santosh Karnani, and his wife, Aarti Karnani.
The searches were conducted at the residential and office premises of the accused officer and his associates. The CBI alleged that Santosh Karnani illicitly enriched himself and acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. It is also alleged that his wife actively abetted the purchase of these assets.
According to the CBI FIR, the couple was accused of possessing unexplained assets worth Rs 1.31 crore, which amounts to 156.24% more than their declared legal income. Investigators allege that the ill-gotten funds were invested in properties across Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Mumbai.
The ongoing operation includes the search and seizure of incriminating documents and digital devices from the premises linked to the accused. As of now, several such items have been seized, and searches are continuing, the central agency said.
CBI officials stated that the action was part of a detailed investigation into the alleged financial irregularities and asset accumulation. The agency is also examining financial transactions and property records to identify further leads in the case.
Santhosh Karnani's name first surfaced in Oct 2022 when a Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team raided his office at the income tax department premises on Ashram Road in Ahmedabad. Karnani escaped after creating a ruckus during the trap proceedings. Later, the CBI took over the case from the ACB.
In Sep 2023, CBI filed one more FIR against Karnani about taking a bribe of Rs 30 lakh and allegedly sharing confidential information with a builder to help him win a case in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in return for land at a heavily discounted price.
During the inquiry, it was found that Karnani also grew his income illicitly, after which a probe into the DA case began.