Top Income Tax Officer in the line of fire

No politician targeted in I-T raids, clarifies Department

Bengaluru: B.R. Balakrishna, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and Director-General (Investigations), Karnataka and Goa, was the target of many barbs and allegations by politicians on Thursday.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged Balakrishna was acting like “an agent of the BJP” and was promised a gubernatorial post after his retirement, prompting him to “selectively target” Opposition parties.

Balakrishna refused to personally respond to these allegations. However, in an official statement released by his office, he said, “The investigation wing of the Income Tax Department is committed to carrying out its functions in a professional manner in accordance with the provisions of law. We request the cooperation of all persons, including political parties. We also request that the activities of the department should not be politicised, personalised or trivialised”.

The Income Tax Office, Karnataka and Goa area, clarified that it had conducted raids on residence, properties and offices of several contractors and connected persons. It is a routine raid after getting credible evidence on tax evasion and no residence or offices of Members of Parliament or Karnataka Legislature members were targeted.

The Department said while it is true that CRPF is being used for providing security, the said Central Armed Personnel were requisitioned from the State Police (ADGP) Law and Order following normal protocol and have not been flown in outside the State.

The investigation wing of the I-T Department has carried out searches on a wide range of professions and businesses including bureaucrats, breweries, MNCs, mining barons, diagnostic centres, trusts, educational institutions, medical colleges, real estate, fisheries and film industry including politically exposed persons.

All these searches have resulted in collecting credible evidence on tax evasion. The searches on politically exposed persons have covered their entire range of political spectrum, the statement said.