AMN
The Income Tax Department continues searches for the second day today at the residence of Karnataka Energy Minister D.K.Shivkumar in Bengaluru in connection with an alleged tax evasion case.
IT raids are also continuing at the premises owned by Mr Shivakumar in Safdarjung area of Delhi.
Yesterday Income Tax Department conducted searches at 64 locations and properties linked to the Minister in connection with the case.
The raids were conducted with a team of about 120 Income Tax officials with the aid of central paramilitary force. IT officials said, around 10 crore rupees cash has been recovered during the raids at various properties linked to the Minister.
They said, around 7.9 crore rupees cash has been recovered from Delhi while around 2.23 crore rupees cash has been found at locations in the southern State. They said, a good amount of jewelry has also been recovered during the raid.
Officials privy to the action said the department is investigating Mr. Shivakumar in a case of alleged tax evasion and huge undisclosed investments in real estate and other sectors. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has termed the IT raid as a political vendetta.
Congress has said that BJP should stop horse trading of Gujarat congress MLAs. Talking to media outside Parliament today, senior party leader Pramod Tewari said, the Income Tax raids on Karnataka minister D K Shivkumar is very unfortunate as para military forces were used.
Mr Tewari wondered why the Income tax department had not raided Shivkumar earlier, as he is a minister since last three years.
Mr Tewari said, Congress party will continue to protest this inside Parliament.
Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Ananth Kumar today said Congress should stand against corruption and black money instead of supporting them.
Replying to a media query on IT raids carried out yesterday in Bengaluru, Mr Kumar said, the action by the IT department was taken after substantial information. He said, the government will continue its fight against corruption.