Pramesh S Jain & Yogesh K Porwar
The Income Tax officials in the State,premises belonging to contractors of large irrigation works were searched for alleged non disclosure of income.
Over 30 premises are being searched by nearly 300 IT sleuths,sources said.
According to sources, simultaneous raids were conducted from 5 am by a joint team of 150 Bengaluru and Goa officials, and currently, they are searching the house of Umesh, who is said to be a close aide and personal assistant of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa.
Houses of businessmen, contractors and chartered accountants in Sahakaranagar, Hegde Nagar, Bashyam circle and other places are also under scanner. Few of them are also close to politicians.
Sources said that at least six contractors have come under the radar.Another individual said to be close to a political family has also come under the scanner.
Political observers said that the individual in question had come under spotlight for his interference in administrative matters in Water Resources and Public Works departments.
According to sources the IT searches have also covered tax consultants connected with the firms and individuals in the case.
Sources said that some individuals who supply construction hardware materials, including steel to government projects,especially in the irrigation sector,have also been covered.
At Umesh’s residence in Bengaluru’s Bhashyam circle, I-T sleuths have recovered four bags full of documents.He was said to be handling transfers and the movement of files under Yediyurappa.Six locations owned by Umesh’s relatives have also been raided.
It is believed that Umesh was a driver with the BMTC years ago,when Yediyurappa was the opposition leader.
Sources said that Umesh worked as the personal secretary of Yediyurappa for a while and had accumulated properties in Bengaluru.
Furthermore, I-T officers raided the residences of chartered accountant Amala in Hegde Nagar and R Lakhmikanth,who lives in Chamundeshwari Layout.Raids have also taken place at the Sahakarnagar office of Rahul Enterprises.
A team of I-T officers raided contractor DR Uppar’s residence in north Karnataka’s Bagalkot city. It is said that Uppar managed to build good relationships with all of the political parties and obtain profitable contracts.
It is not related to the party or its leaders: Minister’s:
Housing Minister V.Somanna tried to play down Income Tax raid on the residence and office of Umesh,who was the former Chief Minister BS. Yediyurappa’s personal assistant while he was in office.Carrying out raids is a normal and routine process that follows a private complaint,” he added.
Refuting the Former Chief Minister, HD. Kumaraswamy’s allegations that internal conflict in the party BJP might be the reason for IT raids on Mr.Yediyurappa’s close aide, Mr. Somanna said that the raid is nowhere related to the party or its leaders.It is not right to give political colour to it,” he added.
Mr.Somanna exuded the confidence in the BJP winning both the Sindgi and Hangal Assembly constituencies in the by-polls scheduled on October 30.
Reacting to Mr.Kumaraswamy’s statement on RSS,Mr.Somanna said that the RSS is a patriotic organisation that is safeguarding the country.
The RSS has received appreciation for its service to the nation and Mr.Kumaraswamy should have thought for a while before making such statements.
His remarks came in response to the recent comments made by Mr.Kumaraswamy who said that the RSS of today cannot be compared to the RSS of 40 years ago.Today, the RSS controls the BJP and its leaders,he had said to media persons.
It is said that the IT’s internal inquiry department received information of alleged multi crore tender scam in an irrigation project and Umesh allegedly played a pivotal role in file clearance.
Apart from Umesh,raids are being conducted at Amala’s residence at Hegdenagar in Bengaluru. Amala worked as CA for the irrigation department.
The IT officials have allegedly got a money counting machine leading to suspicion of huge money being found at her Royal Manor apartment.The officials also are asking her about her personal bank account details.
Meanwhile,Umesh worked as a conductor cum driver with the transport department but due to his closeness,he was posted as PA to Yediyurappa and on deputation he also used to travel in a government vehicle bearing registration number KA-37-G-0523.
He owns a palatial bungalow near Nagasandra Metro Station and to avoid getting noticed, stayed at a rented house in Bashyam Circle.
For the last 13 years,he has very close ties with Yediyurappa’s family and also used to take care of late MP BY Raghavendra whenever he used to come to Bengaluru.
It is said that the officials have a list of 30 contractors suspected in income tax fraud.The officials at present are raiding Rahul Enterprises which deals with cement and steel the officials have reportedly taken one person for inquiry.
It is said that the files and amount are being tallied.
Reacting to the incident,JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy says that the raid is a result of an internal feud coming out in the open.
BJP MLC H Vishwanath said that his efforts of highlighting the tender scam in the irrigation department have now yielded results.
He alleged that it was Yediyurappa’s son Vijayendra’s role in the tender allotment scam that resulted in Yediyurappa stepping down.
He asked who is Umesh, was he a KAS or IAS officer to get the government car facility?
He said Umesh used to arrange the meeting of contractors with politicians.Without the knowledge of Vijayendra,no files in irrigation got cleared,he claims and said he welcomes the raid.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that he had got information that I-T raids are happening across many places in the state.I’m yet to get detailed information from the Department.
The raids aren’t related to our government. I cannot make any further comments without knowing the exact details,he said in Mysuru.
The Income Tax Department on Thursday also conducted searches at multiple locations connected with some realtors in Maharashtra on charges of alleged tax evasion,official sources said.
