Karnataka Chief Minister Condemns IT Raid on Minister DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister, Congress leader Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders in the state have objected and condemned massive raid by Income Tax (IT) department on Karnataka State Energy Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday and described the raid as a BJP led union government sponsored attack on the state cabinet minister.

IT raid is being held at the residences, offices of the minister and his close associates, relatives at 39 different locations in Karnataka and New Delhi. The officers have been questioning the close aides, relatives, staff and others of the minister. Cash worth Rs 11 crore and documents have reportedly seized from the residence of the minister in New Delhi.

The chief minister in a press statement said, Congress party would fight against central government sponsored attack in the form of IT raid on the minister as it is intended to destroy the image of the minister and confidence of the Congress MLAs in Karnataka. Frustrated BJP has been misusing the government departments including IT to wipe out its political rivals of the party, Chief Minister added.