Karnataka govt writes to Revenue Secy, protests raids on D K Shivakumar

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday had questioned the need for CRPF personnel during raids.

The Karnataka government has written a letter to Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia over 'the way raids were conducted by Income Tax officials'. The two-page letter has questioned the deployment of CRPF personnel and lack of coordination with the local police. Above all, the letter states that a law and order situation could have been created because of the IT department's conduct.

Additional Chief Secretary of Karnataka Subhash Chandra in his letter said that the conduct of Income Tax Department during the raids in Karnataka on Wednesday utilising the CRPF in full gear without keeping local police informed casts aspersion on the state police force.

"It casts an aspersion of adverse credibility, integrity and professionalism of the State Police which has been used by effectively and without complaint by the IT department in previous operations," the letter read. The Karnataka government has claimed that since there was no coordination between the IT department and the local police, a law and situation could have arisen.

"The Commissioner of Police Bengaluru has informed that about 30 CRPF personnel were deployed in full gear with weapons. This also resulted in protests by the local supporters of the Hon'ble minister (SIC) and police personnel were required to be mobilised and deployed at short notice to maintain law and order, " the Karnataka government said.

Lashing out at the Revenue department for violating norms of informing the local police about raids, the Karnataka government has registered its 'strong protest'. The state has asked the Revenue Secretary to 'advise the Income Tax Department suitably in the matter'.

On Wednesday, Congress leaders accused the BJP of using central agencies to target political rivals. Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah claimed that deploying Central Armed Police Force was in violation of norms. The letter has been scripted on the same lines.

OneIndia News