Income tax officials conducted raids on the premises of Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Umashankar Singh across Uttar Pradesh, recovering ₹11 crore in cash along with jewellery and luxury watches. The operation targeted over 30 locations linked to the MLA and his associates, following audit findings on illegal mining. Singh, who is receiving treatment for blood cancer, was not directly involved in the searches due to his medical isolation.
The Income Tax Department launched coordinated searches on Wednesday morning, involving over 50 officers who targeted more than 30 sites in districts including Lucknow, Ballia, Sonbhadra, Kaushambi, Mirzapur, and Prayagraj. The raids extended into Thursday, focusing on Umashankar Singh's residence in Vipul Khand, Gomtinagar, the office of his firm Chhatra Shakti Construction Company, and properties connected to associates on Wazir Hasan Road. In Sonbhadra, investigators examined locations tied to mining companies such as Sai Ram Enterprises, as well as premises of mining trader C B Gupta and related businessmen.
The largest cash recovery came from the Vipul Khand house, contributing to the total of ₹11 crore seized, alongside jewellery and luxury watches. Officials also retrieved documents indicating alleged tax evasion, benami assets, and illegal mining activities in Sonbhadra and Mirzapur. Preliminary reviews of these materials revealed references to payments involving officials and intermediaries, along with potential benami investments.
These actions stem from a recent Comptroller and Auditor General report that highlighted approximately ₹60 crore in revenue losses from illegal mining in Sonbhadra, prompting scrutiny of associated contractors and operators. In Ballia, teams arrived at the MLA's residence using private vehicles disguised with wedding stickers to maintain a low profile.
Umashankar Singh, a three-time MLA from Rasra in Ballia, has been undergoing treatment for blood cancer. He returned from the United States last month following a blood exchange procedure and is currently isolated at his Lucknow home. Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati condemned the raids, calling them 'an act against humanity' due to Singh's health condition.
Uttar Pradesh minister Dinesh Singh, related to the MLA through marriage, expressed support for his family, stating, 'As a father, I could not abandon my daughter and that personal relations could not be severed because of politics.' Officials plan further steps based on analysis of the recovered cash, items, documents, and digital records.