Dharwad: Income tax officials raided a complex, and the residence belonging to Congress leader Shivashankar Hampannavar, who is said to be a close confidant of district minister Vinay Kulkarni, here on Wednesday.
A team of income tax officials, led by Kishore Kumar of Bengaluru, started the raid in the morning at Hampannavar's residence Neelaganga Nivas in Charantimath garden. Another team raided the Hampannavar complex located in Maratha colony. The raids continued till the evening. It can be recalled that income tax officials had instructed Hampannavar to declare the value of his residence at Rs 10 crore, during the raid conducted in September last year. "As he did not declare the market value of his property, we have conducted the raid, to evaluate his residence and other properties," sources said.
Hampannavar said IT officials had insisted to declare a value for his property, which is much higher than the existing market value. "I have all the documents to prove my contention. I do not fear such raids," he said.
Responding to a query, he asserted that this raid need not be connected to his recent political activities. "It's true that I am involved in a campaign seeking an independent Lingayat religion, and I had also recently picketed at MP Pralhad Joshi's residence. Though I have been a Congress worker since 35 years, I don't find any political vendetta in this raid," he added.
A team of income tax officials, led by Kishore Kumar of Bengaluru, started the raid in the morning at Hampannavar's residence Neelaganga Nivas in Charantimath garden. Another team raided the Hampannavar complex located in Maratha colony. The raids continued till the evening. It can be recalled that income tax officials had instructed Hampannavar to declare the value of his residence at Rs 10 crore, during the raid conducted in September last year. "As he did not declare the market value of his property, we have conducted the raid, to evaluate his residence and other properties," sources said.
Hampannavar said IT officials had insisted to declare a value for his property, which is much higher than the existing market value. "I have all the documents to prove my contention. I do not fear such raids," he said.
Responding to a query, he asserted that this raid need not be connected to his recent political activities. "It's true that I am involved in a campaign seeking an independent Lingayat religion, and I had also recently picketed at MP Pralhad Joshi's residence. Though I have been a Congress worker since 35 years, I don't find any political vendetta in this raid," he added.
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