Ten search teams, including three from Delhi and one from Chennai were assisted by the Indo-Tibet Border Police
Ten search teams, including three from Delhi and one from Chennai were assisted by the Indo-Tibet Border Police
Income Tax officials carried out simultaneous raids at the premises of seven ruling BJP MLAs and mining firms in Bellary district, including ministers and mining magnates G Janardhana Reddy and his brother G Karunakara Reddy. This was the second day of the raids. Ten search teams, including three from Delhi and one from Chennai, assisted by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police raided the premises of theu00a0 Reddys and their business associate B Sreeramulu in Hospet taluk and district headquarters, Bellary.
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| Sealed: At least 60-65 premises, mainly in Bangalore, Bellary, Hospet and Sandur in the home district of Reddy brothers came under the scanner. Pic/Satish Badiger |
As raids continued in at least four mining firms in Hospet, a source said, "The raids are likely to continue until the evening." At least 60-65 premises, mainly in Bangalore, Bellary, Hospet and Sandur in the home district of Reddy brothers who have been accused by the opposition of trying to lure away their MLAs, came under the scanner.
The raids came against the backdrop of the political turmoil in the state that saw 16 MLAs withdrawing their support to the government, forcing it to face two floor tests. The Congress and JD(S) have accused the BJP of poaching their MLAs to shore up its numbers in the House, but the ruling party has hit back at the Opposition, charging it with trying all means to topple the state government.
Though the BJP has won the trust vote, a cloud of uncertainty still looms large with the High Court reserving its verdict on the plea of 11 rebel BJP MLAs. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and JD(S) State Unit Chief H D Kumaraswamy refused to react to the raids saying, "It is a routine inquiry by the I-T department.
