Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: Hitting back at Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar over his claim that the money unearthed by sleuths of the Income Tax Department during a raid in the state belonged to the previous government, BJP leader Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday dared the former to order an inquiry and produce evidence to support his allegation.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, the BJP leader said those involved in the hoarding of cash should be identified and brought to book.
“The deputy CM has said the money recovered belongs to the BJP. Let him inquire and come out with proof that it belongs to our party. Those behind the hoarding of cash should be called out, identified and punished,” Gowda told media.
Earlier, Karnataka deputy CM alleged that the money recovered in the recent raids in the state is linked to BJP leaders.
“The BJP is behind this corruption and hoarding of cash. They are the fountainhead of corruption, which is why the people of Karnataka threw them out. The money that has been recovered is linked to BJP leaders. The Congress has nothing to do with it,” he said.
According to a press release from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), incriminating evidence in the form of loose sheets, hard copies of documents and digital data were found and seized during the raids.
It said the search resulted in the seizure of unaccounted cash worth approximately Rs 94 crore, in addition to gold and diamond jewellery worth over Rs 8 crore in the raids and searches that were conducted last week.
The combined amount unearthed during the raids and searches came to more than Rs 102 crores.
A cache of about 30 luxury wristwatches of foreign make was also unearthed from the premises of a private salaried employee, not engaged in the business of wristwatches, the release stated.
The searches were carried out on October 12.
Earlier, on Sunday, BJP leader CT Ravi alleged that the recovered money was part of Congress’ illegal fund collection, meant for the upcoming state polls.
“Rs 42 crore cash was recovered from (contractor) Ambikapathy’s house. Another Rs 40 crore was recovered from the residence of a builder, Santhosh Krishnappa.
We have information the money was meant to be used for the upcoming state elections. All the recovered money belongs to the Congress,” Ravi said.