The Income Tax Department is conducting searches since early morning today in four cities including Jaipur, Kota, Delhi and Mumbai relating to tax evasion cases against a Rajasthan-based jewelry group. Approx 80 tax sleuths apart from police officials launched the searches. Reportedly, another entity in Rajasthan is also being searched.

It department claims that searches were initiated on the basis of inputs of huge cash transactions taking place and the business group's alleged links to these transactions., they said. As per the news reports, official sources did not comment on reports claiming that the searches were linked to the current political crisis in the state.

Fuelling the speculations Mahesh Joshi, Rajasthan government chief whip, on Monday condemned the income tax raids on premises linked to two Congress leaders.