Wizcraft raided for possible tax evasion

Income Tax authorities raided Wizcraft Management company's Mumbai headquarters at Veera Desai Road in Andheri ( West) on Thursday evening to check for possible cases of tax evasion. All the computer terminals at the global event management agency's office were seized and documents confiscated. Telephone lines were monitored by the IT sleuths. Staffers were not allowed to take calls on their mobile sets and asked to stay indoors.

The IT search was launched in connection with Wizcraft Management company's financial dealings in connection with the opening and closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2010. The opening and closing ceremony was handled by the Organising Committee (OC) along with firm Wizcraft and Sarkari is an integral part of the core team that developed concepts for both the functions.

Of the total budget of Rs 210 crore for the opening and closing ceremonies, Aerostat (helium balloon) at the opening alone was priced at Rs 36.7 crore. Wizcraft International was among the five event management companies which handled the CWG ceremonies.

According to IT sources, the search operations were launched to trace documents related with the firm's financial dealing with CWG organising panel, search operations continued till late evening.