Officials of the Income Tax Department on Thursday conducted raids at multiple locations of an academic establishment owned by senior Congress leader G. Parameshwara. Parameshwara was the deputy chief minister in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government that fell in July.
According to media reports, IT officials began searches at the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology and Sri Siddhartha First Grade College in Tumakuru. Both institutions are owned by Parameshwara. The Economic Times reported raids were also conducted at Parameshwara's residence in Bengaluru.
The Hindu reported IT raids were also conducted at educational institutions owned by R.L. Jalappa, another senior Congress leader, in Kolar.
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Parameshwara slammed the income tax raids as being “politically motivated”. Speaking to mediapersons, Parameshwara noted, “I have come to know that Siddhartha Group is being raided. Let IT take any action if they find anything illegal.”
Interestingly, the IT raids against the institutions of Parameshwara and Jalappa comes hours before the Karnataka Assembly convenes for a three-day session on Thursday. Leader of opposition and former Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah declared the “BJP is misusing Central agencies to target Congress and opposition leaders, which we condemn.”
