The Karnataka BJP staged protest in city demanding CBI investigation into recent Income Tax (I-T) raids in Karnataka and other states, where significant amounts of cash were recovered. The party on Monday had also organized protests in Karnataka, targeting Congress government and alleging corruption involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in light of I-T raids.
Central Board of Direct Taxes Reveals Details of Raids in Karnataka and Other States.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes disclosed that Income Tax Department had seized ₹94 crore cash along with gold, diamond jewelry worth ₹8 crore and 30 luxury watches during raids on government contractors and real estate developers in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. In Karnataka alone I-T officials seized about ₹42 crore in cash from contractor and his son.
D V Sadananda Gowda Accuses Congress Government, Calls for CBI Investigation.
Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, leading the BJP leaders in the demonstration at Freedom Park, accused the Congress of engaging in a systematic scheme to amass wealth for elections in other states. He alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka was pressuring contractors by withholding funds for pending bills, forcing them to pay bribes.
Gowda emphasized that Karnataka had become a source of funds for elections in five states, describing the situation as unparalleled in the country. He asserted that an I-T investigation wouldn’t be sufficient and called for a CBI probe to uncover the hidden hands orchestrating the corruption.
BJP Leaders Demand Accountability, Stress the Need for Uncovering Hidden Corruption Networks.
During the protest, BJP leaders chanted slogans against the Congress government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, and the party’s central leadership. Gowda, speaking to reporters, stressed the need to expose the individuals behind the rampant corruption in Karnataka. He argued that a CBI investigation was necessary to reveal those orchestrating the embezzlement of public funds.
