American says she paid for auto driver's villa

The auto driver who was under the I-T department scanner for buying an expensive villa in Whitefield was, in fact, the beneficiary of an American woman’s munificence, it has emerged.

Lara Evison (72) from the United States recorded her statement with the Income Tax officials, saying she paid Rs 1.6 crore for the villa, which came to the tax officials’ attention as it was owned by an auto driver, Subramani.

She produced documents to prove the money transfer to Subramani to buy the villa, which was raided recently.

Lara’s statement comes after I-T officials served a notice to Subramani, asking him to explain the source of funds for the expensive villa.

Sources said Lara knew Subramani when she lived in the city between 2006 and 2010. “She worked for a private firm in Whitefield and rode in Subramani’s rickshaw from her apartment to office. Lara grew fond of Subramani’s family members,” a source said.

After getting back home, Lara returned to Bengaluru several times and stayed with Subramani’s family. The growing fondness for the family prompted her to loan the money for the villa.

Lara is unmarried and has also been funding the education of Subramani’s children. She also took Subramani on a tour to the US. “I consider myself a member of Subramani’s family now,” she said.

Subramani, meanwhile, said the misleading reports about him in the press were untrue.

“I didn’t commit any mistake. It is true that I bought the villa, but I gave all the documents related to the purchase to the I-T officials. I’ll give them all the information when they summon me,” he said.