The Income Tax Department launched a significant search and seizure operation at the premises of Greenlam Laminates, a leading manufacturer of plywood and laminates, in the Kotputli-Behror district of Rajasthan on Thursday morning. The raid was conducted at the company's manufacturing unit located in the RIICO Phase-2 industrial area of Behror. According to officials, the action was initiated following specific intelligence regarding large-scale tax evasion and discrepancies in financial reporting. The sudden arrival of the tax authorities has caused a stir across the regional industrial belt.
Early Morning Operation and Security Measures
The operation commenced in the early hours of Thursday when a convoy of approximately 8 vehicles reached the main gates of the Greenlam Laminates factory. The teams comprised senior officials and investigators from the Income Tax directorates of both Delhi and Jaipur. To ensure the safety of the officials and maintain order, a large contingent of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel accompanied the teams. Upon entry, the security forces immediately cordoned off the entire premises, sealing all entry and exit points to prevent any unauthorized movement or removal of documents.
Seizure of Electronic Devices and Communication Lockdown
As soon as the investigators entered the facility, they followed standard protocol by seizing the mobile phones and communication devices of the security staff, administrative personnel, and other employees present on-site. This measure was taken to prevent any external communication that could potentially hamper the investigation. The sudden lockdown of the facility led to a brief period of confusion among the factory workers. The IT department's technical experts have also taken control of the company's digital servers and accounting software to preserve electronic evidence.
Scrutiny of Financial Documents in Admin Block
The core of the investigation is currently focused on the company's administrative block, where multiple teams are meticulously examining financial ledgers, transaction records, and stock registers from the past few financial years. Officials are scrutinizing documents related to high-value transactions to identify any potential anomalies. The investigation aims to verify whether the reported production figures align with the raw material procurement and sales data. Discrepancies in billing and suspicious vendor payments are also under the scanner of the auditing teams.
Allegations of Tax Evasion and Ongoing Investigation
Preliminary reports suggest that the department received inputs regarding the inflation of expenses and under-reporting of income by the firm. There are suspicions that the company might have utilized fictitious invoices to reduce its taxable income. The scope of the raid may extend beyond the Behror factory to include the residences of top executives and other corporate offices associated with the brand. While the search is ongoing, the Income Tax Department has not yet released an official statement regarding the recovery of any undisclosed cash or assets.
Impact on the Industrial Sector
The raid on a prominent player like Greenlam Laminates has sent ripples through the industrial community in Behror and neighboring areas. The RIICO Phase-2 unit is one of the primary manufacturing hubs for the company, making this a significant operational disruption. Local law enforcement agencies have been kept on standby to assist the central teams if required. Sources within the department indicate that the verification process is extensive and may continue for several days before a final assessment of the alleged tax liability can be determined.