K'taka: I-T raids at premises of Kumarswamy's close aides

Officials from the Income Tax department are conducting raids at the residence of Zilla Panchayat President and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Nagarathna Swamy in Maddur, sources said on Tuesday.

Raids are also being carried out at Zilla Parishad member Timme Swamy's premises, as well as two firms belonging to Nagarathna, namely Someshwara Fertiliser and Saw Mill, sources added.

Both Nagarathna and Timme are said to be close aides of Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

Other than Mandya, the I-T department is carrying out searches in Hassan and Bangalore.

As per the I-T department, a total of five residences in Hassan, one in Bengaluru and one in Mandya along with their business premises are being searched.

"The searches being conducted today are based on credible intelligence that certain businessmen have earned income not disclosed to tax and are in possession of undisclosed assets," I-T department said in a statement.

"The taxpayers are engaged in the business of real estate, quarrying and stone crushing, executing government contracts, operating petrol bunks, sawmill and managing cooperative banks. These are sectors which are prone to generation of black money," it added.

Last month, I-T officials and CRPF personnel conducted raids at the residence of Karnataka Minor Irrigation Minister CS Puttaraju and multiple locations in Bengaluru, Hassan, Musuru and Mandya.

Raids had also taken place at locations of 17 contractors and seven officers from the Public Works Department (PWD) and Irrigation Department. (ANI)