I-T officials raid premises of astrologer, seize Rs 1.7 cr

Mangalore Today/DHNS

Bangalore, May 5, 2013 : Officials of Income Tax department have seized Rs 1.7 crore cash from two premises of a city-based astrologer, Chandrashekar Swami; popular with politicians in Karnataka.

 

The raid was jointly conducted by the IT and elections officials on Saturday May 4 evening at his residence in R T Nagar here. The operation went on till late night.

Sources in the I-T department said the tax department had conducted the raids yesterday after it received an input about the presence of Rs 40 lakh cash at the astrologer’s two premises in Bangalore’s RT Nagar and Ashiyana extension.

"No electoral malpractice was however found in the keeping of the cash. The cash would be released after due legal procedures are completed under the provisions of the I-T Act," a senior official said.

The astrologer was regularly visited and consulted  by politicians of the state and hence his premises were searched, the official added.

On the Election Commission’s instructions, I-T officials have been keeping a watch on illegal cash and other inducements meant to lure voters during the Karnataka Assembly elections.