Income tax department accuses HD Kumaraswamy of intimidation, seeks action

BENGALURU: In an unprecedented move, the income tax department has requested the chief electoral officer, Karnataka, to act against the state’s top leaders for criminal offences, including obstructing public servants from discharging duties when they protested in front of its Bengaluru office on March 28, 2019.


In response, the poll authorities have said the police station registered an FIR over the protest following a complaint by a flying squad officer. The leaders against whom action has been sought include CM HD Kumaraswamy, deputy CM G Parameshwara, former CM Siddaramaiah and minister DK Shivakumar.

In a letter dated April 5, 2019 to the poll authorities, BR Balakrishnan, principal chief commissioner of I-T and director-general of I-T (investigation), Karnataka and Goa region, has also sought action against ministers HD Revanna, SR Mahesh, CS Puttaraju and former ministers Dinesh Gundu Rao and Ramalinga Reddy for their tirade against the director general of income tax.