ACP to probe I-T dept's complaint against Karnataka CM, others
Bengaluru, Apr 10: A day after the I-T department sought legal action against Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and some of his cabinet colleagues for allegedly obstructing tax officers from discharging duties, an ACP has been assigned to probe the matter based on the complaint, police said Wednesday.
Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Goa-Karnataka region) B R Balakrishnan had written to the state chief electoral officer, seeking action against the chief minister, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and others for "intimidating" I-T officers and obstructing them from discharging duties during the raids last month.
Police said the assistant commissioner of police (ACP) of Banaswadi sub-division has been assigned to probe the matter based on the complaint by Balakrishnan.
Kumaraswamy, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and host of other state ministers along with their supporters had staged a demonstration near the I-T office on March 28.
They had accused the Centre of using central agencies, such as the Income Tax department, Enforcement Directorate and the CBI, to intimidate the opposition. The protests took place when tax raids were in progress across the state.
Balakrishnan had also demanded that cases be registered against all those who took part in the protests for unlawful assembly, intentional insult, breach of peace, criminal intimidation and threat of injury to public servant under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
In his letter dated April 5, Balakrishnan said, "Reports in the electronic media depicts that the protest was led by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Ministers D K Shivakumar and S R Mahesh, former home minister Ramalinga Reddy, Dinesh Gundu Rao, MLA and KPCC president."
"This was followed by specific statements, including personal allegations against the director general of income tax, by Ministers H D Revanna and C S Puttaraju," the letter read.
The I-T official demanded cases should be registered against all those who took part in the protests for unlawful assembly, intentional insult, statements conducing to public mischief, criminal intimidation, obstructing public servant from discharging their duties and threat of injury to public servant under various IPC sections, including 143.
A copy of the letter was made available to the media Tuesday.
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Mamata alleges BJP disrupted her Bhabanipur rally, Suvendu claims 'she's nervous'
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut short her speech at a rally in her Bhabanipur constituency, alleging that the BJP was deliberately playing loud music from a nearby public meeting.
A peeved Banerjee said despite having the required permission of the Election Commission, her rally in Chakraberia was disrupted by the BJP, "who want to capture Bengal by intimidation and threat".
"It is not possible for me to go ahead with this meeting. If they can do such a thing in my constituency, imagine how undemocratic the BJP is. If they behave like this, I have to take legal action," she said.
"This is an insult, humiliation. BJP is stepping on our toes to instigate trouble. Not possible to address the gathering in this situation. I am leaving the stage. Please vote for me in your protest," she added.
Banerjee was then seen calling someone over and venting her grievances.
Before leaving the stage, she said, "I will hold a rally tomorrow at the same spot."
TMC supporters then rushed towards the BJP rally, which was later addressed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, but security personnel intervened and prevented the situation from escalating.
TMC workers later staged a demonstration outside the local police station and filed a complaint, alleging that the BJP violated the model code of conduct.
A senior TMC leader said another complaint will also be lodged with the Election Commission.
Asked about Banerjee's allegations, Adhikari told reporters after the rally he held nearby, "Her reaction shows she is nervous about the imminent loss."
"There was no violence, no obstruction in her meeting and her behaviour shows her nervousness. On May 4, people of Bhabanipur will celebrate the victory of the BJP," he claimed, alleging that the TMC also tried to disrupt his meeting by playing loud music.
South Kolkata's Bhabanipur, one of the battleground seats in the West Bengal elections, will vote in the second phase on April 29.
