IT raids associates of JD(S) netas

Hassan: The IT Department raided PWD contractors and business associates of  minister for public works H.D. Revanna in Hassan , Arakalagudu, Channarayapatna and Shravanabelagola on Thursday.

The office of the executive engineer of the public works department, C.S. Manju, was also searched by I-T officials, who arrived in Hassan Wednesday midnight and began their  raids  at 5 a m.  The I-T department is targeting the minister’s associates a time when his son, Prajwal Revanna, is contesting from Hassan. Responding to the raids,  Mr Revanna said he was unfazed by them. “My family will not be intimidated by such tactics.  I-T commissioner Balakrishnan is acting as an agent of BJP,” he charged. Splitting into teams, I-T officials searched the homes of  first class contractors Ashwatanarayan and Narayana Reddy, who are said to be associates of Mr Revanna.  Houses of contractors in Chikkamagaluru, including that of contractor CHVN Reddy, were searched. President of  Hassan District Cooperative Bank was summoned by the I-T officials while the raid was underway at the bank. Others whose premises were searched included Mr Krishnegowda in Kuvempunagar, Mr Shivamurthy in Mallipatna, Mr Abdul Hafeez in Shravanabelagola, Mr Thimmegowda in Channarayapatna and Mr Nagaraj.

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