I-T Sleuths in Decorated Wedding Cars raid SLN Coffee Estates-Kodagu
Madikeri: Sources reveal that I-T sleuths posed as wedding party raided coffee growers in Kodagu, especially premises of SLN Coffee. A team of 40 I-T and police officers from Mysuru and K R Nagar raided the premises of SLN Coffee on Wednesday. The Income Tax officers arrived in style, and incognito, to raid coffee growers in Kodagu. They posed as a wedding party to gain entry into the premises of SLN Coffee and conduct a surprise raid.
As per the reports, the I-T team traveled in 13 Innova cars, decorated with flowers and cards reading `Deewana weds Komala’, to avoid suspicion and enter the homes of SLN Group partners N Sathappan and N Vishwanathan in Kushalnagar. It was only when the I-T sleuths identified themselves that Sathappan and Vishwanathan realized they were being raided.
The raid began at 8 am and the team searched the homes and properties of the SLN Coffee Group at Koppa and Kushalnagar, near Pollibetta and coffee export centres of the company. The coffee works unit in Kudige was also raided. The raids were also conducted on allied businesses of the group, which include a petrol bunk and Purple View Hotel in Kushalnagar, and Eden Garden resort near Guddehosur.
Sources said a team of I-T officials also searched the home of Sathappan and Vishwanathan’s parents in Chettinad in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu.The brothers are said to be distant relatives of a former Union minister in the UPA government.
Raids were also carried out at the CP Coffee Exports, owned by a person identified as Jawahar, at Kudige Industrial Estate area.
Note: Pic for illustration only- Inputs from TNN
