I-T raids Revanth Reddy's properties

The Income Tax Department conducted searches at 16 places belonging to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president A Revanth Reddy on Thursday who was a prime accused in the 2015 cash for vote case.

Revanth Reddy was away in Kosgi, campaigning for his party when the I-T officials conducted raids at his home and offices on Thursday morning. The Congress Party has termed the raids as a political vendetta by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Revanth, a legislator from Kodangal in Mahbubnagar district who has shifted his loyalty from Telugu Desam Party was made the PCC working president last week.

Telangana unit of Telugu Desam party fears that the BJP led centre is hell-bent on reviving cases that could trouble Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Evidence in cash for vote case includes the alleged voice of Naidu speaking to Stephenson convincing him that his leaders will “take care of the things”.

Earlier the I-T department also raided the house of Sebastian, who introduced Revanth Reddy to Stephenson. Recently a local court in Maharashtra has slapped non-bailable warrant against Naidu and 15 others in connection with the eight-year-old case.

Several supporters of the MLA gathered around Revanth’s house in Jubilee hills and raised slogans in his support. TRS Nizamabad MP K Kavitha has said that TRS has no role in the I-T raids.

The raids came after a complaint was filed by a lawyer about unlawful financial dealings by Revanth and his relatives through various companies. Revanth along with eight partners had started Sai Mourya Estates and Projects Company in 2003. The company had furnished accounts only till September 2010. The complainant is said to have informed the I-T officials that the company had resorted to money laundering up to Rs 300 Crore through 18 shell companies.