Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 2: An auto rickshaw driver here all of a sudden came under the radar of income tax (I-T) department after suddenly purchasing a villa. The auto driver who found himself in this unenviable situation happens to be Subramani, resident of Nallurhalli near Whitefield in the city.

The I-T officials conducted a raid on the villa acquired by Subramani near Whitefield based on information conveyed by members of general public. They could lay their hands on certain incriminating documents, it is said.

Subramani had begun his profession of operating an auto rickshaw a few years back. People were taken aback when he suddenly spent crores of rupees and bought a villa and turned curious about how he earned so much money. They then alerted I-T department, based on which the officials raided the villa.

It is said that Subramani has close contacts with some influential political leaders and entrepreneurs, and through these contacts he has amassed so much wealth within a short time. The documents the I-T officials recovered from the auto driver's residence reportedly prove that he owns certain benami properties. The benami properties in his name are reportedly connected with his proximity to a lady who happens to be a foreigner.

The officials found that Subramani also operated lending business apart from real estate. On the face of it, they found that he has not been paying any income tax on these incomes. He is being questioned.

The department has served notice on Subramani, asking him to produce original documents for the cash, villa and other properties owned by him, and seeking explanation about the income sources based on which these acquisitions were made.