Restaurant India News: Income Tax Department Conducts Major Searches on Ramee Group Across 10 Cities

The Investigation Wing of the Income Tax Department on Tuesday carried out large-scale search operations on the Ramee Group of Hotels, a well-known hospitality chain with a strong presence in Mumbai, Pune and other major cities. The coordinated searches began early in the morning and covered more than 30 locations, including flagship hotels, corporate offices, and premises linked to Founder Vardaraj Manjappa Shetty (Raj Shetty) and other senior executives.

Heavy police security was deployed at key sites such as the Ramee Hotel near Dadar railway station in Mumbai and the Ramee Grand Hotel on Apte Road in Pune, where officials conducted extensive checks. Searches were also carried out in Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Udaipur and Goa.

Sources said the action is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged tax evasion by entities associated with the group. The operation is considered one of the biggest recent drives by the IT Department, covering hotel properties, corporate offices and premises linked to business partners.

The Ramee Group operates 52 hotels across India, including several popular nightlife and hospitality brands such as Bombay Adda. Officials are examining financial records, digital data and transactions related to hotel revenues, property deals, franchise operations and event-led businesses.

Raj Shetty, the group’s owner, is counted among Dubai’s top 100 industrialists. The Ramee Group has built a significant portfolio across India and the UAE, with interests spanning hospitality, nightlife and event-based enterprises.