I-T raids KTK rural dept engineer,seizes Rs 1.5 CR;BJP seeks

Income tax sleuths Friday seized unaccounted cash of Rs 1.5 crore from a lodge here in which a rural development department engineer was staying, sparking demands from the BJP for minister Krishna Byre Gowda's resignation.

Rural development and panchayat raj (RDPR) minister Byre Gowda has denied any involvement in the matter.

Acting on a tip, I.T officials raided the lodge at Anand Rao circle where the executive engineer from Haveri and his driver were staying, officials said.

While the engineer is at large, the driver, who was apprehended, admitted that both of them were engaged in collecting money from contractors at the rate of five per cent of each contract value, they said.

Besides cash, many documents were also found, officials added.

Following the seizure, the BJP alleged that extortion was done on behalf of their political masters to fund the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Since the engineer belonged to the rural development and panchayat raj (RDPR) department, the BJP demanded that Congress leader and RDPR minister Krishna Byre Gowda step down on moral grounds.

Asked for his reaction, Byre Gowda said "Let the I-T department conduct an inquiry and facts will be known. Fact of the matter is all these are baseless and concocted connections are being made."
When you come across such scams, it gives an impression that this government, which is involved in corruption and daylight robbery, does not want development."
We urge Gowda to immediately step down on moral grounds."
Referring to reports that the documents seized during the raid allegedly point to between 10 and 20 per cent commission being taken by the officials, he said, "for whom they are acting or whose protection they are acting, we can only surmise and guess."
Who is that somebody in Karnataka?"