A private firm, Christy Friedgram Industry, in Tamil Nadu that supplies eggs for the afternoon meal scheme, fortified food for the Integrated Child Development scheme and pulses to the state civil supplies department has reportedly been found to have evaded Rs 1,350 crore in income tax payments.
Income Tax department officials conducted raids last week on 76 places including various branches of Christy Friedgram, based in Tiruchengode in Namakkal district, last week on a complaint that the the firm was evading tax payment. The firm’s owner T S Kumaraswamy was brought to Bengaluru and then taken to Tiruchengode for enquiry.
Tamil daily Dinamalar reported that the income tax officials also seized Rs 19 crore unaccounted cash and 10 kg of gold from the firm’s headquarters. The daily said further search operations were on and so far Christy Friedgram had been found to evaded Rs 1,350 crore in tax payment.
Tax officials suspect that Kumaraswamy could have political links, including with the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ministers.