In one of the largest, single-day operations in recent times in Karnataka, Income Tax officials on Monday searched the office premises of Health Minister B. Sriramulu in Bangalore, and the offices and residences of two BJP legislators, who are involved in mining businesses.
The premises of the MLA from Kudligi, B. Nagendra, and Kampli legislator, T.H. Suresh Babu (nephew of Mr. Sriramulu), both considered close to Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his brothers, were searched in Bangalore and in their home towns early in the morning.
Searches were also conducted in the rooms (no. 333) allotted to Mr. Suresh Babu and Mr. Nagendra (no. 330) in the Legislators' Home here.
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A large number of houses, offices, business establishments, mining and construction firms in Bangalore, Bellary and Hospet, searched by the I-T Department, belong to people close to the Reddy brothers.
Documents seized
According to I-T officials, a large number of documents have been seized, and bank accounts frozen. The searches were conducted on over 50 premises.
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The searches assume importance in the background of Opposition allegations that the ruling BJP was paying off MLAs from other parties to resign from their posts under its “Operation Kamala.”
The residences and offices of one of Mr. Reddy's personal assistants, Ali Khan, and a legal adviser, Raghavacharlu, were also searched in Bellary, Hospet and Bangalore.
Mr. Nagendra's construction firm in Bangalore, the Bellary-based Aakar Abhinav Construction Company (owned by a close associate of the Reddy brothers), GGS Mines, ILC Mines, Lakshmi Venkateshwara Steels owned by Kharapudi Mahesh, Swatik Steel owned by K. Nagaraj were among the other firms searched. I-T officials said the operation was carried out on the information available from the earlier searches conducted on other mining companies and their proprietors. Mr. Janardhana Reddy's residence and offices were searched in 2007.
CRPF security
The Central Reserve Police Force was used to provide security during the searches.