Tax raids at rice mills in Miryalaguda unearth Rs 5 crore cash

Hyderabad: Income-tax (I-T) department officials, who conducted a series of raids on Thursday in Nalgonda district, have seized Rs 5 crore in cash from rice millers. The cash was supposed to be stocked for distribution of cash to voters on behalf of political leaders in Nalgonda district. It was reported that the rice millers are close associates of Miryalaguda BRS candidate Nallamotu Bhaskar Rao.

Around 6 am on Thursday, 40 teams of the I-T department along with Central forces raided rice mills in Miryalaguda and Haliya in Nalgonda. Similar raids were carried out on the houses of rice mill owners at different places in Nalgonda district and Shakapuram village of Nidamanoor mandal in Nalgonda district, which is the native of Bhaskar Rao.

Though initial reports suggested raids were on the house and offices of Bhaskar Rao, he denied any raids on his properties.

According to sources, the officials raided the residences of R. Sridhar, R. Ranjit, and B. Kushalaiah in Miryalaguda and found unaccounted cash.

The I-T officials also conducted raids on Vajra Rice Mill located in Haliya and found unaccounted cash at the godown. The I-T officials asked the owners to submit details of purchase and export of paddy.

Earlier, the I-T officials conducted raids on the residences of Maheshwaram BRS candidate Sabita Indra Reddy's associates, Congress’ Palair candidate Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy's residence and office, and Badangpet Congress Mayor Parijata Narsimha Reddy's residence.