In two letters to the Chief Electoral Officer, the Karnataka Income Tax Department has sought action against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for revealing impending I-T raids on March 27 and holding protests in front of I-T offices in the city the following day, which the department has termed “intimidatory tactics”. The I-T Department has also alleged that the Chief Minister “acted against national interest”.
The department lodged a complaint with the CEO seeking an FIR against Mr. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara and several other leaders of the coalition, including the Cabinet Minister, over the protest they held outside Income Tax offices on March 28. The complaint seeks prosecution for several cognizable offences like unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and obstructing a government servant from discharging his/her duties.
Sanjiv Kumar, CEO, Karnataka, said that he had referred the complaint to the Director General and Inspector General of Police, Karnataka, to take and take necessary action.
The BJP, echoing the sentiments of the I-T department, petitioned Governor Vajubhai R. Vala on Monday demanding suitable action against the Chief Minister for violating his oath of secrecy and alerting tax evaders amounting to obstruction of justice.
B.R. Balakrishnan, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and Director General (Investigations), Karnataka and Goa region, against whom the Chief Minister made several allegations of colluding with the BJP and also of corruption, wrote the letters dated March 30 and April 5. He has even asked the EC to consider “whether investigation can be handed over to an independent agency”. Copies of the letters are available with The Hindu.
In the letter dated March 30, Mr. Balakrishnan states that the Chief Minister’s statement on the night of March 27 warning of “Mamata Banerjee tactics” was an open threat of violence. He writes that the Chief Minister was alerted of the impending raids as I-T department had sought security from the State police and this amounts to “misuse of government office for gathering intelligence for personal, political purposes against national interest.”
In trouble
Block secretaries of the Congress and JD(S) are in the dock for allegedly organising a protest outside the I-T Department on Queen’s Road in Bengaluru last month to oppose a large-scale search and seizure operation conducted against many persons linked to the JD(S), including Minor Irrigation Minister C.S. Puttaraju.
Based on the complaint filed by D.N. Rajashekhara Murthy, head of flying Squad, the Commercial Street police have filed an FIR against the block secretaries of both parties.
In his complaint, Mr. Murthy said the organisers had arranged several vehicles to transport party workers for the protest. Election officials estimate that the amount spent on conveyance was over ₹59,000. This is in violation of the Model Code of Conduct, said the complainant.