Income Tax raids multiple locations in Bengaluru

Hours after chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's claims about a possible raid by the Income Tax Department, multiple locations in South Bengaluru were searched by I-T sleuths, late on Wednesday evening.

Searches by the I-T department are being carried out at the residences of five businessmen, sources told Deccan Herald. Three of the raided were affiliated to the JD(S) and two to Congress, a corporator said under the condition of anonymity. One of the persons raided is identified as Siddiq Sait, residing near South End Circle, Jayanagar. Identities of other persons raided are yet to be ascertained.

The raids are suspected to be connected to fund mobilisation ahead of a massive rally planned by the coalition government on March 31. Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy in Mandya had accused B R Balakrishnan, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax, Karnataka and Goa region of being a 'BJP agent', adding that Central Reserve Police Force was being marshalled to carry out the operation.