B'luru search yields Rs 85 lk; no politicos raided: I-T

The searches carried out on three businessmen in Bengaluru on Thursday resulted in the seizure of Rs 85 lakh in cash and 13.5 kgs of jewellery, according to Income-Tax department.

Despite allegations by the Congress-JD(S) coalition on selective raids, the department maintained that none of the persons searched are ‘Politically Exposed Persons’.

Searches carried out on Wednesday and Thursday in Bengaluru, Goa, Hubballi and other locations led to cumulative cash seizure of Rs 3.19 cr and jewellery worth Rs 3.90 cr. While searches in Bengaluru were carried out on Thursday, the operation went on in Hubballi, Belgaum and Udupi districts on Wednesday.

In a press release, Bangalore Central Congress candidate Rizwan Arshad accused the department of conducting raids to cripple his campaign.

The department said that 23 premises in Bengaluru, Chitradurga and Kolkata belonging to businessmen were raided. “Searches have led to unearthing of evidences pertaining to unaccounted cash sales/sales suppression, cash expenses made out of books and receipt of on-money on sale of flats.”

Searches in Chikkodi, Gokak and Nippani in Belagavi district yielded unaccounted cash of Rs 62 lakh. “Ingenious modus of creating fixed deposits in the names of employees to park unaccounted money has been detected,” it said.

None of the persons searched are Politically Exposed Persons. No candidate in the ongoing elections, or any MP, MLA or office-bearer of any political party has been covered in these searches,” the release said.