Timing of search was decided well in advance: I-T dept

The Income Tax Department issued a press release minutes after the Congress criticised the I-T raids on Energy Minister D K Shivakumar in Parliament.

“The Karnataka Investigation Wing of the Income Tax department is conducting searches in the case of a Karnataka Minister. The search under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act is an evidence gathering exercise which is being carried in compliance with all statutory requirements. The search is the continuation of an investigation which has been in progress for a considerable period of time,” the release said.

“The timing of the search was decided well in advance. The events involving certain MLAs of another state being brought to Karnataka were unforeseen and unpredictable events. The minister being searched was staying at a resort near Bangalore where some MLAs from another state are put up. Hence the minister’s room alone is being searched,” the release added.

“The search team has no concern with the MLAs and there has been no contact with MLAs and the search team. It is again reiterated that the Income Tax search is only on one Karnataka Minister,” the release stated.