Comml Tax official conducts search on Congress leader's granite firm

Bangalore, Nov 7 (UNI) Commercial Tax officials today conducted searches on 10 offices of granite trading firms, including those belonging to close relatives of Congress leader and former Karnataka Minister D K Shivkumar in the City today.

Official sources said that, two teams comprising eight officers conducted the search simultaneously to investigate the matters relating to permits and commercial tax returns filed since the year 2002-03.

Reacting to the search, Mr Shivakumar accused Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of ''playing vindictive politics.'' ''This is an attempt to bring me a bad name. Our companies have filed all records to the department and conduct business in a transparent manner,'' he added.

Officials, however, said they were not aware whether the Congress leader had any stakes in the offices which were searched by them today.

UNI RS MSP SI DB2251