Saravana Bhavan, Hot Bread among 32 food chains raided by I-T Dept in TN

Restaurants left untouched, only offices targeted; around 100 I-T personnel involved in the search

In what is being regarded as a major crackdown on the sector in Tamil Nadu, the Income Tax Department initiated search operations in the premises of as many as 32 popular food chains in Chennai, the state capital, on Thursday morning.

Sparked by suspicion of tax evasion, the searches were conducted against well known chains and restaurants such as Saravana Bhavan, Hot Bread, Grand Sweets and Anjappar, say reports.

The raids weren't conducted in any restaurant premises but were limited to the management offices, said a senior tax official. While he refused to divulge details, agency reports said that around 100 I-T