Raid at Sonu Sood's 6 properties; Actor in trouble

Bollywood actor Sonu Sood is currently in trouble as six of his properties have been raided by the income tax department.

As per a report in NDTV, a close source has revealed that his premises in Mumbai and a company in Lucknow linked to him were raided today. 

The news channel has quoted a source from the Income Tax department revealing a few details about the raid, 

"A recent deal between Sonu Sood's company and a Lucknow-based real estate firm is under the scanner. The survey operation has been initiated on allegations of tax evasion on this deal."

It was just recently when Sonu Sood met the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who declared him the brand ambassador for his government's mentorship programme for school students in the capital.

After the meeting, Sonu Sood denied any plans for a political debut with Mr Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). And this raid has come just days after his high-profile meeting.

Since the nation wide lockdown was imposed due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic, Sonu Sood has been endlessly helping people and has become one of the favorite stars among the masses.

He organised special flights and buses home for migrants stranded in various cities during the first lock down. Then in April-May when the at second wave of COVID-19 was at it's peak, he organised oxygen for Covid patients.

His humanitarian efforts endeared him to a legion of fans across the country in the past year. The 48-year-old actor won wide praise for his charity work during the pandemic.

Though he has never shown any inclination towards politics, speculation ran wild after his meeting with the AAP chief and rumours suggested the actor may contest next year's Punjab election.

The tax searches were linked by many to the meeting.

Asif Bhamla, BJP spokesman too was quoted by NDTV saying, 

"There is no relation to that. Any personality can meet anyone. It is just a search, not a raid. It's on a tipoff. It's not necessary that the person who heads the charity has done anything wrong... It must be something at the lower level.  Income Tax is an independent department, which has its own protocol. It is doing its job."