Restaurant holding Lite Life, which includes the popular Asian restaurant chain Tanuki and Yorsh beer halls, is under investigation for tax evasion, police spokeswoman Irina Volk said Wednesday.
In a scene that could have inspired a crime show, police officers walked in as the company's accountant tried to throw bags with "black" accounting documents, or papers that contained detailed records of the tax evasion, out the office window, Volk said. Police found 200 million rubles ($7.2 million) in cash from a safe in the company's office and no documents to account for that money.
The bags of documents and cash were confiscated along with hard discs containing the company's financial information.
Police got a tip to check the restaurant after customers had not been receiving receipts when paying their checks.
It is not yet clear whether the police will open a case.
The holding's other restaurants are Moskva, Zhyoltoye More, Benvenuto and Chichibio. Owner Alexander Orlov is a United Russia party member. He chairs the committee on reconstruction of Moscow's historic and cultural landmarks and is a member of the committee on school lunches. Orlov donates money to and spends time volunteering at orphanages, according to his web site. He also produced the movie "Satisfaction," which premiered in 2010.
Lite Life declined to comment for this story.
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