The action is being carried out against Kerala-based jewellery group Joyalukkas and another firm connected with it to check alleged tax evasion following demonetisation.

Tax sleuths detected huge cash deposits and sale figures of gold, diamond and jewellery in the accounts of Kerala-based jewellery group Joyalukkas and another firm connected with it.

Tax sleuths detected huge cash deposits and sale figures of gold, diamond and jewellery in the accounts of Kerala-based jewellery group Joyalukkas and another firm connected with it. (File for representation)

The Income Tax Department on Wednesday conducted country-wide searches at over 100 stores and other premises belonging to two major south-India based jewellery chains on charges of alleged tax evasion, official sources said.

The action is being carried out against Kerala-based jewellery group Joyalukkas and Manjali jewellers, I-T sources said.

“The searches are in progress,” a senior official said.

The raids began early morning at 130 premises of the two business houses in the cities of Chennai, Hyderabad, Thrissur and other locations in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal, the sources said.

The action, they said, is aimed at checking alleged tax evasion, following demonetisation, in the two firms.

Sources said the taxman was investigating the “business” links between the two groups also, as part of the action.

Tax sleuths had allegedly detected huge cash deposits and sale figures of gold, diamond and jewellery in their accounts.

The Chennai wing of the department is coordinating the nation-wide action, involving over 100 tax sleuths and a number of police teams, sources said.