Fake I-T men ‘raid’ house, escape with gold worth Rs 12 lakh

The victim T Saraswati of Indira Nagar in Kancheepuram was alone in the house as her son Kumaravel (30), a financier, had gone for a function at 4 am, along with his wife.

Around 4.45 am, five men who posing as income tax officials reached the house in a car with the ‘Government of India’ label. One of them was in the police uniform. The men also showed fake identity card to make the Saraswati believe them, said sources.

They claimed that they got information regarding the black money in the house and started the ‘search operation’ and also asked Saraswati to switch off all the mobile phones.

During the ‘search’, the five men took the gold jewels from the cupboard and Rs 15,000.

The ‘officials’ questioned her how the family purchased the gold jewels and also their source of income. They took a sheet of paper, wrote details of the ‘seizure’ and got signature from Saraswati on it.

The ‘IT men’ then asked her to come to the income tax office at the Kancheepuram collectorate at 11 am on Monday along with her son and left the place around 5.30 am.

Later Saraswati contacted Kumaravel over phone and narrated the incident. Kumaravel then rushed to the Income Tax office and enquired about the raid. After officials denied conducting any such raid, Kumaravel filed a complaint with Kancheepuram taluk police station.

A police team visited the house, collected fingerprints and are investigating.