Bengaluru: The Income Tax officials have searched the residence of Congress MLA B Shivanna from Anekal, following information that he had allegedly stashed cash there.
It is believed that the I-T Department searched the MLA’s residence after they were requisitioned by the Election Commission officials, who received a tip-off of cash at his residence.
“Since election officials cannot enter residential premises for a search, the I-T Department was called in. A search warrant is always required to search premises,” I-T sources confirmed, clarifying that it was not a regular search or survey operation by the I-T Department. “The whole operation was completed in less than four hours. The search that concluded by 10 am, did not yield any incriminating documents, though Rs. 5 lakh was found,” a source said.
The I-T Department began a survey of properties belonging to four Congress workers in Koppa taluk — Koppa block president Sudhir Kumar Murolli, who is also an advocate, Sathish, Kukkada Ravi, and Subrahmanya Shetty, all Congress leaders. A team of 20 officers reached Koppa early in the morning and began survey operations.
The survey is being conducted in both Koppa and Jayapura in Koppa taluk.
Congress workers have alleged that the I-T Department was working at the behest of the BJP. “It is clear that BJP leaders are behind this act. I don’t know what they will get in Mr. Sudhir Kumar’s house, which is full of literature books,” said Naveen Karuvane, a Congress worker.