IT officials raid rooms of HDK, Congress leaders

Ahead of by-polls in Kundgol and Chincholi assembly constituencies, I-T officials raided a hotel and resort at Huballi from Monday evening to the early hours of Tuesday.

Teams of Income-Tax officials and mobile flying squad units of Election Commission conducted the raid on the said properties on suspicion that cash and other goods to bribe voters were stored at the venue. The raids took place from 9 pm on Monday evening to around 2 am on Tuesday morning.

There were reports that I-T officials attempted to search the room in which Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was staying, but was turned away by his security staff for lack of valid documents.

According to sources, attempts were made to search the rooms of ministers D K Shivakumar and Zameer Ahmed Khan, and MLA Santosh Lad. Income Tax officials are yet to issue a statement regarding the raids.

During the search operation, 11 portraits of late minister C S Shivalli, 50 gold-plated sindoor boxes, seven lists of voters and other items were seized. A case was registered against Shivakumar Chandsrashekar Gokavi in connection with the case at Gokul Road police station.