NEW DELHI: The Income Tax Department on Saturday raided the premises of senior Samajwadi Party national secretary and spokesperson leader Rajiv Rai in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh.

According to sources, the search lasted for more than two hours.

The SP leader allegedly created shell companies which were used to launder money, they said.

Local police were deployed outside his residence to avoid any untoward incident. As the news spread, SP workers and leaders gathered outside his house giving the police a tough time.

Terming the raid "political vendetta", the party accused the Centre of "misusing" its power to create terror among SP leaders.

IT department sources said that after UP, another team was sent to Haryana as the leader has links there as well. "We conducted raids in several places in Haryana. He has links in Haryana too. Their premises were raided," said the source.

Reportedly, the IT officials have recovered incriminating documents in the raid.

The people connected to shell companies, reportedly related to SP leader, were questioned by the IT officials.

While the raids in UP were conducted this morning, the raids in Harayan were conducted in the noon. Further probe in the matter is on. 

Speaking to ANI, Rai said, "This is IT department. I've no criminal background or black money. I help people and government didn't like it. This is a result of that. If you do anything, they'll make a video, register an FIR, you'll fight a case unnecessarily. There is no use let the procedure complete."

Reacting to the IT raids, the SP chief said, "The more the BJP's fear of defeat increases, the round of raids on the opposition will also increase, yet the chariot of the SP and every program will continue unabated."

Similarly, Income Tax department is also conducting searches at the residences of Jainendra Yadav, reportedly a close aide of Akhilesh Yadav, in Lucknow and RCL Group promoter Manoj Yadav.