I-T search of realty, educational firms

The Income-Tax officials on Monday searched around 50 premises belonging to real estate firms and educational institutions and their associated firms. Residential premises belonging to some of the top brass of these institutions were also searched. According to sources in the Income-Tax Department, the raids were conducted in Bangalore, Mangalore, Udupi and Manipal to verify the correctness of income-tax returns filed by these firms.