The case filed on Wednesday names the owner of the city's prominent Sofat Hospital, his wife, their son, and his wife. The family is accused of intimidating Income Tax officers, hindering the search, and refusing to cooperate with officials during the raid at their business and residential premises.
According to news reports, the FIR was registered based on a complaint submitted by Anurag Dhindsa, Deputy Director, Income Tax (Investigation-I). The charges include Sections Section 218 (Resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of a public servant), 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function), 222 (omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance), 224 (threat of injury to public servant ), 351 (criminal intimidation) and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
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According to the FIR, the Income Tax Department conducted coordinated search operations on December 18, 2024, targeting both the hospital facilities and the Sofat family’s residences. Following the raids, the officials lodged a formal complaint alleging misconduct and intimidation by the accused during the proceedings. A senior I-T officer alleged that during the search operations, the owner of the hospital and his son repeatedly threatened him with serious consequences if the search was carried out or continued on their premises. The son specifically threatened to file false cases of sexual harassment against the search team, claimed strong connections with the local police and judiciary, and warned that, as a doctor, he could easily fabricate situations suggesting bodily harm to himself and his family, including his wife and mother.
These acts of intimidation were intended to obstruct the officials from performing their duties and to disrupt the search operation. The occupants also initially refused to provide or sign statements that could have revealed these facts.
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According to Tribune India, the I-T officer alleged, “During the search operation, Dr Amit, Dr Ruchika and Dr Rama insisted on visiting the hospital to ostensibly treat their patients and they were never interrupted in their duties. The attitude and tone of Dr Amit and Dr Ruchika were not cooperative, and they were not giving direct replies even to simple questions regarding the location of the keys of the locked room and drawers. Their response was elusive, and they did not disclose the password for the Marg ERP software. Rather, the Sofats had become combative and started making veiled threats and unfounded allegations. They even tried to intimidate employees by forcibly entering and interrupting the statement of a key employee. When Dr Ruchika was requested for the keys of a room attached to her cabin, where unaccounted costly IVF injections were stored, she got infuriated and alleged without any basis that we are using abusive language for the lady. A lady constable, a female nurse, and many other witnesses were present at the spot that time”.
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