BENGALURU: The I-T raids on the premises of Energy minister D K Shivakumar has caused ripples within the state Congress with apprehensions of I-T sleuths soon knocking on the doors of a few more prominent ministers in the Siddaramaiah cabinet.
According to the buzz in the political circles, Water Resources minister M B Patil, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, PWD minister H C Mahadevappa, Large and Medium Industries minister R V Deshpande are among those in the I-T department’s crosshairs.
The raid on the premises of Shivakumar were anticipated after I-T officials and Enforcement Directorate seized a diary from the residence of Congress MLC K Govinda Raj last year. The diary allegedly contained names (initials) of some of the ministers who provided funds for the Congress national leadership.
Water Resources minister M B Patil came out openly on the issue even as raids were on at Shivakumar’s residence. “I am next in line. BJP is misusing the I-T department to achieve its political objective of curbing its rivals. My sources in BJP and the I-T department alerted me well in advance about the preparations to conduct raids on my premises as state BJP leaders are targeting me politically,” Patil declared.
To a question on why he anticipates the raids, Patil said the fact that he is seen as a strong leader of the Lingayat community could be one of the reasons. However, he expressed his readiness to face the challenge. “They (I-T sleuths) will be disappointed if they raid my premises. Let them see whether I have amassed black money or reeling under debt,” he said.