LUDHIANA, Oct. 16 — The Division Number 8 police have registered a case against five members of the Sofat family, owners of several medical establishments in Ludhiana, for allegedly obstructing an income tax (I-T) search operation carried out at their homes and business premises on December 18 last year.
Those booked have been identified as Dr Jagdish Rai Sofat, Dr Rama Sofat, Dr Amit Sofat, and Dr Ruchika Sofat — all residents of Sangat Road, College Road — and Dr Sumit Sofat of Dr Heera Singh Road, Civil Lines. The FIR was lodged following a complaint by Anurag Dhindsa, deputy director of income tax (investigation).
According to the complaint, the accused allegedly threatened I-T officials with false legal cases, including sexual harassment allegations, and tried to intimidate employees to prevent the disclosure of key financial records. The Sofats were also accused of refusing access to locked rooms and electronic data, including files from the Marg ERP software, and of “creating deliberate hurdles” during the raid.
The FIR further stated that the family members interfered with the questioning of staff. It alleged that when Dr Ruchika Sofat was asked for the keys to a room adjoining her cabin, she became agitated and accused officers of using abusive language.
Another accused, Dr Sumit Sofat, allegedly threatened to approach the courts to stop the search despite the presence of valid warrants, the complaint added.
Police have invoked Sections 218 (resistance to lawful taking of property by a public servant), 221 (obstructing a public servant), 222 (omission to assist a public servant), 224 (threatening injury to a public servant), and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 3(5) of the Act.
Division Number 8 SHO Amritpal Sharma said that no arrests have been made so far. “The matter is under investigation,” he said.
