Karnataka: IT raids on JDS leaders' residences in Hassan, Mandya and Mysuru

MYSURU/MANDYA/HASSAN: Twelve hours after chief minister HD Kumaraswamy expressed fear of Income Tax (IT) raids on the residences of the party leaders especially from Mandya, multiple teams carried out searches in various parts of the Hassan, Mandya, and Mysuru districts. The targets of the raids were CS Puttaraju, Mandya district in charge minister, and a few officials allegedly close to PWD minister HD Revanna.But IT department was yet to confirm the searches.
According to the JDS sources, the search operation started at 5am at Chinakuruli village, the native village of minister Puttaraju near Pandavapura. The search operations are carried out in Mandya town also. IT department team is also verifying documents at the residence of CS Puttaraju's relative in Vijayanagara in Mysuru city.

According to the sources, in Hassan, the IT officers are carrying out a search operation in at least three places.

IT officers carry out a search operation on the residences of PWD engineers in Channarayapatna town of the Hassan district.
Reacting to the IT raids, Mandya district in charge minister CS Puttaraju confirmed that the IT raid started at early morning. "But I have proof and documents for even Rs 10 income. So why shall I bother? I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this raids," he said.

A team of senior IT department officers raid the house of Mandya district in charge minister CS Puttaraju in Mandya.
PWD office targetted: According to the police sources, IT department is carrying out a search operation even in the PWD department office in the Hassan city. "As per the information we received, search operation is on in PWD office and residences of a few PWD officers," said police.

As the news of IT raids on the district in-charge minister CS Puttaraju, who is also the minor irrigation minister, spread, his supporters blocked the Pandavapura-Channarayapatna highway throwing the vehicular movement out of gear.
It can be recalled that HD Revanna, CM HD Kumaraswamy's brother, is the state PWD minister. His son Prajwal Revanna is contesting from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency.
JDS activists protest; Pandavapura-Channarayapatna Road blocked
Mandya: As the news of IT raids on the district in-charge minister who is also the minor irrigation minister CS Puttaraju spread, his supporters blocked the Pandavapura-Channarayapatna highway throwing the vehicular movement out of gear. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highway. Additional police personnel are sent to convince the agitating activists.
Meanwhile, CS Puttaraju is on his way to Mysuru to meet the senior leaders of the party including CM HD Kumaraswamy to discuss the future course of action.