Income Tax Department raids multiple locations linked to Rajasthan minister Rajendra Yadav

Residences and commercial establishments of some other individuals in Rajasthan were also raided by the I-T department.

Yadav, who also holds Independent Charge as MoS for Higher Education; Planning (Manpower); State Motor Garage; and Language and Library, told The Indian Express that his family has been involved in business for more than 70 years, “I have been in business since before I entered politics…. Ours is a limited company…if there are allegations of money laundering, then check these companies; we will answer.”

“If a property has been purchased, then we have paid for it, done the registry. We have nothing in benami — our agricultural land, our factory, homes, everything is in writing.”

While the I-T searches are being linked to an alleged midday meal scam, Yadav said he doesn’t know anything about it. “We have packaging work in Kotputli (Jaipur district); a flour milling in Uttarakhand. We have no direct supply for midday meal or anything related. But if someone is making that link, we can’t help it,” he said.

Yadav, an MLA from Kotputli, said his family runs a factory — Rajasthan Flexible Packaging Limited — for the last 12-13 years in Kotputli. It manufactures bags used for cement, fertiliser, atta, animal feed, etc, and employs between 600 and 700 people. “It is a very systematic work and (the produce) is exported as well. If there are irregularities in midday meal (scheme), then lodge an FIR. We don’t have anything to hide,” he said.

In Gurgaon, the Yadav family owns an apartment, which is currently rented out, while in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar, they have a flour mill and a house, which were raided.

Addressing the media at his home later in the evening, Yadav said, “I am loyal to the Chief Minister and to Congress party…you can never accuse my family of taking the wrong path. Running a business is my right, and that of my children.”

He said I-T officials did not inform him of the reason for the search operation. “Let them search; we have no objection. If we run a business and the government thinks we are wrong, then they can investigate,” he said.

Asserting that there is nothing illegal in his businesses, Yadav said, “We are with the truth, but if anyone does it [raids] with wrong intentions, then we are ready to fight, too.”