BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president G Parameshwara and other Congress leaders have backed Water Resources and Medical Education Minister D K Shivakumar, against whom the Income Tax department has made serious charges of violating various provisions in the Income Tax Act, including tax evasion.
Defending his party minister in the coalition government, Parameshwara said the central government is misusing various agencies, including the IT Department, to target its political opponents. “The BJP has the habit of targeting their political rivals through these institutions, however it will not be effective. The notice to Shivakumar is not a new one and he will reply to it,” the DyCM told reporters in Chitradurga.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Housing Minister U T Khader termed the IT department action as a “political vendetta” by the BJP government at the Centre.
The IT department, in its complaint before the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru, had accused the minister of keeping unaccounted for money in a flat in New Delhi and the same was seized during a raid. Shivakumar has denied all the charges and said that he is ready to face the probe.