Rourkela,11 Jan.2019: Officials of Income Tax department on Friday conducted raids at the residence and offices of a mine owner in Rourkela over alleged evasion of tax.

According to sources, raids were conducted on the residence of Diptiranjan Patnaik, the owner of Indrani Mines and Minerals Private Limited.

The raids were conducted as part of a tax evasion probe and on charges of hoarding of cash.

More than 60 tax officials are reported to be part of the raid conducted at over 15 places including residence and offices in the Civil Township area and Commercial estate.

Besides, simultaneous raids in several offices of the mines in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Keonjhar and other places in the Joda area are underway, sources said.

The exact amount of assets detected during the raids is yet to be ascertained, sources added.

Diptiranjan is the younger brother of Odisha P.C.C. President Niranjan Patnaik and B.J.D. Rajya Sabha Member , Soumya Ranjan Patnaik who controls daily Sambad and Kanak Tv .