From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 14: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar wondered how JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy links him to the I-T department raids on Bengaluru contractors and wanted to know whether the former chief minister represented the I-T department.

Speaking to media persons near his residence on Saturday, the deputy chief
minister wondered how the JD(S) leader can speak about the I-T raids in Bengaluru, in which Rs 20 crore in cash and a sum of Rs 42 crore was seized by the Income Tax Department.

"I cannot prevent anybody from hurling allegations or speaking,’’ he said and
asked the I-T Department to give their official statement after completing their investigations,

Shivakumar said Kumaraswamy and the BJP leaders, who have levelled allegations linking the cash seized to the Congress party, and the JD(S) leader’s remarks that he will be sent to Tihar Jail as ridiculous.

"Kumaraswamy’s allegations proves his mindset and desire to see me in Tihar jail," said Shivakumar.

The deputy chief minister said he has details and records of the raids conducted by the I-T Department and will speak on the issue after the I-T Department officials release details of the raids.

He, however, refused to comment on whether the IT raids were engineered by the ruling BJP at the Centre and the JD(S) leader, who has joined NDA for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Later, Kannada cinema actor Leelavathi and her son Vinod Raj called on Shivakumar and presented an invitation for the inauguration of the Veterinary
Hospital established by them.