The Congress and JD(S) governments in Karnataka demand for the transfer of top official of Income-Tax Department, T.R. Balakrishnan, regarding the carrying out of “selective raids” on leaders, traders close to them.
“In view of the partisan tax raids on our political leaders, their relatives, contractors and traders ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the state on April 18, Balakrishnan has to be transferred outside the state,” said allies in a letter to Sanjay Kumar, the Chief Electoral Officer (as reported to IANS).
“By selectively targeting our candidates Balakrishnan is trying to show that only we are flush with funds and not any candidate of the BJP,” said Dinesh Gundu Rao, Congress state president.
This letter also mentioned the arrest of another I-T official for a bribe of Rs.14 lakh from a builder. The letter stated, “The tax officer’s arrest reveals that the I-T department was blackmailing and harassing individuals, politicians, businessmen, traders, and contractors.”
Moreover there were reports of raids being conducted the residence of close aides of Karnataka Chief Minister. Raids were conducted at the residence of Nagarathna Swamy, leader of JD(S) and Timme Swamy. Raids were also conducted at the residence of Karnataka minister CS Puttaraju earlier.