Hoskote MLA N. Nagaraju (MTB Nagaraj) on Thursday became the second Congress legislator in the State to come under the Income Tax Department scanner in less than a month.
I-T sleuths began searches at his residence at Garudacharpalya, near Mahadevapura, and several other premises owned by his family. This includes an educational institution that his family runs in Hoskote. Sources said the premises belonging to his aide Nagappa, and a few relatives were also covered in the search that commenced on Thursday morning.
Mr. Nagaraju is said to be among the close followers of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. His son B.N. Nithish Purushotham, is a councillor representing Garudacharpalya ward in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike council.
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Earlier, on January 19, the premises of Small Scale Industries Minister Ramesh L. Jarkiholi, and State Mahila Congress president Lakshmi R. Hebbalkar were searched by I-T sleuths, who found undisclosed income of over ₹162 crore in all.
Sources said the searches on the properties of Mr. Nagaraj were in connection with his family’s links to investments in real estate that spans across land, commercial complexes and a choultry. The three-time MLA, who had his political battles with the former Minister B.N. Bache Gowda, is a partner in the family-run MTB Estates and Properties.
Department sources said the searches were conducted on several properties in Bengaluru and Hoskote, and according to them, details about the search could be available on Friday since the searchers were under way.
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Incidentally, Mr. Nagaraj, in his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission in May 2013, had declared immovable assets of nearly ₹200 crore, and cash — in various deposits — totalling to over ₹161 crore, and was among the many rich candidates in the fray.
Searches on construction groups
Income Tax Department sleuths searched the premises of three building construction groups — Century Builders, Legacy Builders and Sowparnika Group — here on Thursday, according to sources. This was in connection with land dealings using the scrapped currencies which was done soon after the demonetisation announcement was made.