IT raids on 11 contractors in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Income Tax authorities attacked workplaces and homes of 11 government contractors on Tuesday in Bengaluru and Mysuru in election bound Karnataka for asserted tax evasion. 

Income Tax Department Joint Commissioner G. Ramesh said “Attacks were led by authorities of the IT Investigation Wing on one contractor in Bengaluru and 10 in Mysuru. They take up projects of state government through tendering,” 

Denying reports in a segment of the media, including news channels, Ramesh said that the workplace or residence of Public Works Department Minister M.C. Mahadevappa was not raided in Bengaluru or Mysuru. 

“No Minister’s premises was attacked as announced by a few media channels,” he cleared up.  

The authorities seized Rs 4.13 crore and 4.52 kg gold ornaments esteemed at Rs 1.32 crore amid the raid across the state over the past three weeks. 

“Of the Rs 4.13 crore seized, Bengaluru represents seizure of Rs 2.47 crore and Ballari Rs 55 lakh,” Ramesh said in an announcement on April 21. 

The mine-rich Ballari town is 330 km from Bengaluru. The Income Tax Department had ventured up surveillance and in perspective of the elections. 

In one of the attacks, authorities seized Rs 55 lakh from a person. In another attack  household articles esteemed at Rs 9.51 crore planned for distribution were found in a warehouse close to Mysuru.