Income Tax officials on Thursday conducted raids on premises of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) working president A. Revanth Reddy.
The I-T officials reached the Jubilee Hills residence of Mr. Reddy early in the morning. Raids were reportedly conducted in 15 other places, including his brother's and relatives' premises and also at his Kodangal residence. When the raids were on, Mr. Reddy was campaigning in the Kodangal constituency.
At a press conference a week ago, Mr. Reddy alleged that both the State and the Central governments were planning to harass him, and that he expected raids and also digging up of old cases.
Mr. Reddy had also alleged that Telangana DGP M. Mahender Reddy was acting at the behest of caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.
The I-T officials said the raids were part of the probe into alleged misappropriation of funds in an infrastructure company run by Mr. Reddy's brother.
Arrested three years ago
Mr. Reddy was arrested by the Telangana Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials three years ago while allegedly handing over Rs. 50 Lakh to nominated MLA Stephenson seeking support for the MLC candidate of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He was later granted bail. Later, Mr. Reddy, a strong critic of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrashekar Rao, joined the Congress.
However, the ACB recently wrote again to the DGP to trace the link of the amount caught in the episode. The DGP, in turn, is said to have asked the Income Tax Department for help.
The raids on Mr. Reddy's premises triggered a counter attack by the Congress on the TRS. The party said it cannot be cowed down by such ''threats''.
TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy condemned the raids. Terming it an act of political vendetta and political conspiracy, he claimed that Mr. Rao, in association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was planning to victimise opponents.
