An Income Tax raid on a Karnataka government executive engineer working in the Rural Development department turned political with the BJP attacking the ruling coalition in the state over the incident.
The engineer has been identified as Narayan Gowda Patil, who is presently absconding.
Sources told TNM that officials seized Rs 1.5 crore in cash along with other items in simultaneous raids carried out at his Haveri residence and two rooms of Rajmahal Hotel in Gandhinagar, Bengaluru.
A source said that he had been under the scanner of the Income Tax Department for some time and was suspected of collecting bribes from contractors. An Election Commission official in charge of the Model Code of Conduct told TNM that the I-T Department is yet to inform them if the incident has anything to do with the impending elections.
An official statement from the Income Tax Department is awaited.
Meanwhile, the BJP went on the offensive against the ruling coalition. BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa said, “For election work of Rahul Gandhi, Rs 2 crore of cash has been found in two locations. PM Modi had earlier said the Karnataka government is a 10% govt but this is a 20% government. Krishna Byre Gowda (the Rural Development Minister) should answer because this has happened under his watch. CM Kumaraswamy, Krishna Byre Gowda and Siddaramaiah are responsible. This is a crime and IT officials should focus on this.”
“What will Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy now say? The people of this state are waiting for an answer,” he added.
The Karnataka BJP Twitter handle and various other top leaders of the party also echoed the statements made by their state party president.
“From 10% commission govt in the past, his new CM in Karnataka has successful implemented a 20% commission govt in the state. No wonder @hd_kumaraswamy said he works like a ‘Clerk’ of Congress. Clerk is doing some massive #CollectionForElection, the party tweeted.
Modus Operandi of Dynasts @RahulGandhi and CM @hd_kumaraswamy:
— C T Ravi(@CTRavi_BJP) March 15, 2019
- Allocate tenders to Contractors.
- Collect hefty Commissions from them.
- Spread lies about PM @narendramodi and blame Him for all their failures.
- Shed crocodile tears in Public during Elections to fool People.
Dear @RahulGandhi - looking forward to discussing ur #10percentSarkara or is it now a #20percentSarkara ?https://t.co/7k6vxd57I4
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) March 15, 2019