CM cries foul over I-T raids, official transfers

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the I-T officials following the arrest of an Income Tax officer by the CBI in a bribery case.

Speaking to reporters here, Kumaraswamy said, "Income Tax officials are looters. They are giving the candidates and public trouble for no reasons. An I-T officer has been caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 15 lakh from a businessman. Also, Rs 1.5 crore cash was found at the officer's house. They (I-T officers) are no Satya Harischandras."

Kumaraswamy expressed his anguish over the I-T officials targeting the coalition candidates and their supporters. "They (I-T officials) have not even spared the hotel, where JD (S) candidate Nikhil had his food after campaigning in Mandya. The I-T raids are limited to just Hassan and Mandya. Let them raid the premises of the BJP leaders also."

The chief minister said that his car and convoy have been searched 13 times at election check posts so far. "On Thursday itself, the election officials have searched my car twice between Gokarna and Karwar. I have never seen such large-scale transfers of the election officials and the police officers in the past. If such is the situation, how can they ensure free and fair elections?," Kumaraswamy charged.

JD(S) nominee from Uttara Kannada Anand Asnotikar filed his nomination papers in the presence of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and leaders of both the parties.