Maharashtra cabinet minister Jayant Patil has claimed that the BJP was trying to defame NCP leaders after the Income Tax department raided some businesses linked to family members of state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and some real estate developers on charges of alleged tax evasion.

Searches are being conducted in Mumbai, Pune, Satara and a few other cities in Maharashtra and Goa, official sources said. The premises linked to business groups such as DB Realty, Shivalik, Jarandeshwar Sahkari Sugar Karkhana (Jarandeshwar SSK) and businesses linked to Pawar's sisters are being covered under the ongoing operation, the sources said.