I-T dept searches home of Yediyurappa's former personal assistant

The IT department searched the houses of some Karnataka contractors engaged in irrigation works, including MR Umesh, who was a personal assistant to former CM BS Yediyurappa.

The Income-Tax (IT) department recently searched the houses of some Karnataka contractors engaged in irrigation works. One of them was MR Umesh, who was a personal assistant to former CM BS Yediyurappa.Umesh was also part of chief minister Basavaraj Bommai's office. After the searches, he was sent back to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).The BMTC revoked his deputation order to the CM's office. He was earlier placed in the CM's office even after Yediyurappa vacated the office. As per reports, Umesh worked as a driver-cum-conductor at the BMTC's Puttenahalli depot before he was appointed personal assistant to Yediyurappa. He worked in the CM's office for over a decade though rules stipulate a tenure of 2 to 5 years.

READ: BJP now a party of all classes in Karnataka, not just Lingayat centric: CM Basavaraj BommaiYediyurappa said Income-Tax officials were doing their duty and he has no more information than that."The Income-Tax department said in a statement that it carried out search and seizure operations in the case of three major contractors based out of Bengaluru engaged in the execution of irrigation and highway projects. The searches that commenced on 07.10.2021 have been carried out on 47 premises spread across 4 states.During the search action, it was found that these three groups were involved in suppression of their income by resorting to bogus purchases; inflation of labour expenses; booking of bogus sub-contract expenses, etc. The investigation revealed that one of the groups had booked bogus sub-contract expenses in the name of about 40 individuals of no means and unconnected to the construction business. Upon inquiry, these individuals admitted to the said manipulation.One of the groups admitted to having indulged in inflation of labour expenses amounting to Rs. 382 crore. Further, another group has been found to have taken accommodation entries from non-existing paper companies, to the extent of Rs. 105 crore, which stands admitted by this group.Various incriminating evidence in the form of physical documents, digital evidence, etc. has been found and seized. During the search, unaccounted cash of Rs. 4.69 crore; unaccounted jewellery and bullion valued at Rs. 8.67 crore; and silver articles valued at Rs. 29.83 lakh were seized.The search and seizure actions in these three groups have resulted in detection of undisclosed income of about Rs. 750 crore. Out of this, an aggregate amount of Rs.487 crore has been admitted by the respective group entities as their undisclosed income.Further investigations are in progress.