Income-Tax Raids Congress and BRS Leaders in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: A day before filing nominations, the income-tax department on Thursday conducted raids on the residences and offices of Congress and BRS leaders and offices located at 10 different places in Hyderabad. The income-tax officials suspected the alleged tax evasion in connection to business transactions.

The raids took place on the residence and office of Kichannagari Laxma Reddy, who is contesting from the Congress in the Maheshwaram constituency. Similar raids also took place on the residence of Badangpet Mayor Ch Parijata Narsimha Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy's close relative and realtor Giridhar Reddy's residence in Shamshabad.

K. Laxma Reddy is the owner of KLR Industries which manufactures drilling accessories like DTH Hammers, Cluster Hammers, Rock Roller Bits and API Drill Rods.

A team of I-T department visited Laxma Reddy's residence and office located at Tukkuguda and verified the documents, balance sheets, bank account details. The staff and higher ups of the company explained about KLR activities especially financial transactions.

The raids were also conducted on Badangpet mayor Ch Parijata Narsimha Reddy's residence and offices after Narsimha Reddy became involved in several businesses including real estate and liquor shops in the city. The officials inquired about the sources of income and business transactions made for the past few years and collected Income Tax Returns.

Similar raids also took place on BRS leader Laxma Reddy, who obtained Balapur Ganesh laddu in an auction in connection with sources of income.

Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy alleged that the BRS and BJP colluded and deliberately carried out raids on the Congress leaders. The people would teach a bitter lesson to the BRS and BJP in the Assembly elections. He also confirmed that IT raids took place at his relatives' residences in the city.

With the political leaders alleging that the BJP influenced the income-tax department, BJP state chief and Union minister G Kishan Reddy said that his party had no role in I-T raids in Hyderabad. The I-T department has been conducting raids on several places for years. He found fault with political parties for blaming the BJP.