Income Tax Department sleuths recently conducted search operations at a posh villa in a gated community in Whitefield owned by an auto driver, who has never filed returns till date.
Sources in the I-T Department said the auto driver N.Subramani came on the I-T radar for buying the house in Jatti Dwarkamai Villas, Whitefield. He purchased the ₹1.6 crore villa by paying cash.
According to the sources, the 37-year-old auto driver has been under close watch from April in the light of the parliamentary elections. The department had shortlisted sources from where unaccounted money would come into play for the elections, as soon as this case reached to the department it started the investigation.
The Income Tax Department has registered a case under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988.
On April 16, notices were sent to Jatti Engineering Pvt Ltd, the company that constructed the villa. The sleuths had requested the company to furnish copies of the ledgers pertaining to the sale of the villa to Subramani.
All documents of the property submitted by the builder and the auto driver indicate that he has furnished appropriate proof.
When questioned about his posh lifestyle, according to the I-T sources the auto driver Subramani attributed his income to a foreigner women who used to avail his autorickshaw service. He claims the woman offered to help him improve his lifestyle after she felt sympathetic on learning about his financial constraints. He added that she began lending him money on an interest-free basis to help his children get a good education. The villa in question was also bought by her and whenever she visits India she will stay at this villa as the guest of Subramani.
However his name was also linked to Mahadevapura BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali, who is also BJP’s Karnataka general secretary.
Limbavali refuted the charges and sought to clarify that he had no personal contact with the auto driver and said he was not a party member either.
“Please spare me from such embarrassment,” the former minister said in a Facebook Live video. He added that the accused had participated with him in a public function long back and allegations should not be made based on that. He urged the I-T Department to take stringent action if the accused is found guilty.
The further investigation is on.
Preliminary investigation revealed that he was closely associated with a few politicians and probe is on to identify whose benami he is, sources said.
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