Bombay, July 14:Five squads of income tax officials swung into action early this morning in the second phase of the survey of posh flats in the city in an effort to unearth black-money transactions.
The teams started their survey in the highly sophisticated localities of Cuffe Parade in South Bombay, Napean Sea Road and Malabar Hill and also Pali Hill in Bandra in North Bombay and the Juhu-Vile Parle development scheme area.
The IT officials have all been issued identity cards and flat owners have been advised to insist on the production of the cards before allowing them to enter their premises.
The first phase of survey of such flats was undertaken on July 28 last year, but was suspended on October 8 following the announcement of the voluntary disclosure scheme. The survey had covered about 2,400 flats.
This time the scope of the survey has been enlarged to include independent buildings (bungalows). The present survey will also enable the authorities to detect investment in furniture and furnishings apart from the investment in the apartment itself.
According to IT Department sources tenants of about 83 buildings had taken advantage of the voluntary disclosure scheme and had entered into agreements with the authorities about their investments in flats. Even those persons whose flats had not been surveyed had entered into such agreements.
The present survey will be a continuous process. Any changes of ownership and flats to be built will be taken note of.
The procedure has also been simplified in the present survey. Instead of one big common questionnaire separate questionnaires are being issued to three categories of residents—owners of independent houses and buildings, residents of buildings constructed by co-operative societies and residents of ownership flats in buildings privately built.—Samachar.
Published - July 15, 2026 03:20 am IST