Simultaneous IT raids on offices, homes of mine owners

Bellary, Karnataka, Oct 26 (UNI) A large contingent of Income Tax Department officials, backed by the police, conducted simultaneous raids on offices, homes and mines belonging to a number of mine owners in Bellary, Sandur and Hospet here today.

The day-long raids were conducted on the homes and offices of former Karnataka Tourism Minister Mr Sriramulu, MP Mr G Karunakara Reddy, his brother and MLC Mr G Janardhana Reddy, district BJP chief Mr Somashekar Reddy and many of their relatives.

Official sources said the raids took place in about 50 locations simultaneously.

However, the nature of the seizure was not immediately known, as the IT officials had refused to reveal the details of the raid. The media was also barred from going near the homes and offices as the police had put up barricades.

IT officials, who arrived along with the police from Bangalore and Davanagere, swung into action early in the morning and continued till late in the evening.

Mr Sriramulu, speaking to reporters in Bellary, accused that the raids were the result of the BJP leaders from the district exposing the 'corrupt' ways of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his relatives.

Meanwhile, Mr Janardhana Reddy said that he had not evaded paying any tax and all his accounts were in perfect order. The officials were free to carry out their work, he added.

UNI