Bollywood Actor Sonu Sood’s premises in Mumbai and a company in Lucknow associated to him were raided by the Income Tax department today as per sources. Recent deal between Sonu Sood’s company and a Lucknow-based real estate firm is under the scanner. The survey operation has been initiated on allegations of tax evasion on this deal,” sources in the Income Tax department said.
The tax raids come days after Sonu’s meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who declared him the brand ambassador for his government’s mentorship programme for school students in Delhi. After the meeting, Sonu Sood denied any plans for a political debut with Arvind Kejriwal led AAP Aam Aadmi Party.
Sonu Sood’s humanitarian efforts endeared him to a legion of fans across the country in the past year. The 48-year-old actor won wide praise for his charity work during the pandemic. He organised special flights and buses home for migrants stranded by last year’s lockdown and in April-May, at the peak of the second wave, he organised oxygen for Covid patients.
Though he has never shown any inclination towards politics, speculation ran wild after his meeting with the AAP chief and rumours indicate the actor may contest next year’s Punjab assembly election.
The tax searches were linked by many to the meeting.
