Income Tax sleuths completed their raids on the residence associated with a former corporator. and have confiscated over Rs 42 crores from the residence of a close relative of the former corporator. According to officials privy to the investigation, the cash was packed in cartons and stashed under the bed.
Overall, the Income Tax authorities have recovered over Rs 50 crore in cash during their raids on multiple people in Karnataka. The raids were conducted on several people including a contractor, his son, a gymnasium instructor and an architect in Karnataka.
45 locations searched
The income tax raids, which commenced on Thursday (October 12) at 25 locations associated with two prominent infrastructure companies, had expanded to 45 locations by Saturday evening, according to an official who spoke to news agency PTI on the condition of anonymity.
The Income Tax Department officials conducted raids on the offices of these individuals at various locations, including Sahakarnagar and Sanjaynagar, accusing them of tax evasion. Numerous documents were seized during the operations. Followed by the lead obtained from these two firms, I-T officials searched the houses and other places of contractors and various other people. "A total of 45 locations were searched till Friday while ten more places were raided and searched on Saturday.
Over Rs 50 cr seized
"On Saturday, the third day of the operation, an architect and a gymnasium owner's house was raided. The total amount of cash seized has crossed Rs 50 crore," the official said.
Sources within the BJP have indicated that the contractor, whose residence was subject to the raids, was a prominent figure associated with allegations of a 40 per cent commission against the previous BJP government.
The BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress government alleging that builders are being blackmailed.
BJP leader and former minister C T Ravi said there are instances where a prominent infrastructure company, which is also constructing houses, was denied water connection because it refused to pay bribes.
According to him, the builders are asked to pay a bribe at the rate of Rs 100 per square foot. "This is an unheard of phenomenon. This had never happened before...," Ravi alleged.
(With agencies input)
Also Read: Karnataka: I-T department recovers crores of money from former Congress leader, probe on
