Times of India

Bellary/ Bangalore, Oct 27: In a massive operation, officials of the income-tax department raided residences and office premises of the many persons involved in mining, transportation, real estate, finance and leasing. These included BJP MLC G Janardhana Reddy and his brother Bellary MP Karunakar Reddy, former tourism minister B Sriramulu and MLA Santhosh Lad. 

The search, seizure and survey operations were conducted at various places in Bellary, Hospet, Sandur, Bangalore, Mumbai and Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh. The operation, which covered 50 premises, continued late into the night. 

By evening, the officials seized more than Rs 60 lakh in cash, incriminating documents of property and financial transactions, jewellery worth Rs 12 crore and 12 bank lockers. “The search is still on and a clear picture has not emerged. The lockers are yet to be opened. Investigation is in progress,” said additional director of income tax (HQ) (Inv) in a press release. 

About 50 officials, from different districts, raided the houses and offices of B Sriramulu, Janardhana Reddy and their relatives in Bellary. Both were at Shahapur in Gulbarga district for a party function at the time of raid. 

While officers swooped down on Reddy’s residence in Ganesh Colony of Havambhavi at about 9 am, another team started the search in Sriramulu’s house in Devinagar. They searched the Ennoble office of Reddy. 

On learning of the raids, both rushed to Bellary in their helicopter. Arriving at the Bellary airport, Reddy said they would cooperate with I-T officers, who were doing their job. “Our business and accounts are transparent and there is no secret.’ 

Before leaving for Bellary, Reddy and Sriramulu said in Shahpur that they would not be cowed down by such raids. “Earlier, JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda and former CM H D Kumaraswamy had approached the Lok Ayukta and I-T department to conduct raids on their establishments. This is the continuing effort of the father-son duo,” they said.