Congress leaders’ aides raided

Belagavi: The income tax department raided three civil contractors, including the aides of Congress leaders Prakash Hukkeri and Ramesh Jarkiholi, at separate places in Belagavi district on Wednesday.
Its sleuths raided the residence of Class I civil contractor Prakash Vantamutte at Indira Nagar in Chikkodi. Vantamutte is believed to be aide of Hukkeri, the Congress candidate from Chikkodi Lok Sabha seat. They also raided the residence of civil contractor Jayasheela Shetty in Ghataprabha, Gokak taluk. Jayasheela is said to be an aide of Ramesh. The residence of another civil contractor RS Patil was raided in Shiraguppi, Athani taluk.

The department continued verification of documents till late in the evening. Ministers RV Deshpande and Satish Jarkiholi were quick to condemn the raids, terming them politically motivated. Deshpande questioned the timing of the raids. Satish said that the raids are nothing, but vindictive politics by the BJP.

The income tax department also raided the residence of Uday Shivakumar, a Class I contractor and an aide of former minister SS Mallikarjun, in Davanagere on Wednesday.