I-T raid on Rajoura's residence was illegal, says HC

Madhya Pradesh High Court has observed that the raid conducted at the residence of the former state Home Secretary by the Income Tax Department in 2008 was "illegal".
In May 2008, the Income Tax Department had conducted simultaneous raids at several places, including the former Madhya Pradesh Home Secretary, Rajesh Rajoura's residence.
A division bench of the high court, comprising Krishna Kumar Lahoti and A M Siddiqui, in its order on Thursday said that no raid could be conducted on anybody's residence merely on the basis of suspicion.
"In view of the circumstances surrounding the raid, it is held illegal and quashed," the court said.

The high court added that the I-T Department was wrong in conducting the raid merely on the basis of a chit found from the residence of another officer, Dr Yogiraj Sharma, in which Rajoura's name was mentioned.
"It appeared that the action against Dr Rajoura was taken without adequate basis and the raids were conducted as there was a dispute between an Income Tax officer and Rajoura over the allotment of a house," the court added", the court said.