IT dept: No raids yet on MP, MLA, minister

Denying raids 'so far' on any MP, MLA or minister, Income-Tax Department, Karnataka and Goa region has issued a statement, criticising the statements made by 'persons holding very responsible posts'.

Searches are being carried out on a wide range of professions and businesses including bureaucrats, breweries, MNCs, mining barons, educational institutions, diagnostic centres, trusts, film industry, real estate and fisheries. ".... including politically exposed persons. All these searches have resulted in collecting credible evidence on tax evasion. The searches on politically exposed persons have covered the entire range of political spectrum," the release issued by the Department said.

Requesting that the activities of the Department be not 'politicised, personalised or trivialised', it said: "In particular some statements which sound like an incitement to physical violence issued by persons holding very responsible posts."

It also denied allegations that forces were marshalled from other States, stating that central and armed personnel were requisitioned from the State police.