Telangana minister Malla Reddy expresses outrage as I-T raids on him, family wind down

“They examined every inch of our residences, offices, colleges, and property. They did not leave anything unchecked. They brought so much pressure on us that we were on the verge of emotional collapse,” he said.

Accusations of lapses

Malla Reddy said that the I-T officials who seized gold from his residence in 2008 had not yet returned it to him.

“The I-T sleuths are free to do their duty, but they should not create problems for us in the process,” he said.

The minister also said that the I-T official did not tell him that his son was shifted to the hospital on the first day.

“They did not allow me to use my phone after I learnt about his ill health through TV news channels. My wife began crying after watching the news on the TV,” he said.

Malla Reddy said that he was expecting searches to continue for three more months.

There was a clear possibility that the I-T Department would raid the offices and the residences of important TRS leaders, he said, adding that the KCR team — those close to or in the cabinet of Telangana Chief Minister and TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao — was ready to face any eventuality.

“The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will come to power at the Centre, no matter what,” he said.

Allegations and counter-allegations

In another twist in the ongoing raids by the I-T officials, Malla Reddy’s son Bhadra Reddy lodged a complaint with the Bowenpalli police against Ratnakar, an officer of the I-T Department, while an I-T official filed a complaint against Malla Reddy for harassing him while he was on duty.

Bhadra Reddy in his complaint alleged that his brother’s signatures were forcibly taken at the Dindigul hospital.

Malla Reddy has already accused CRPF personnel of assaulting his son during the I-T raids.

After the raids on Malla Reddy and his family members since Tuesday, the I-T Department wound up its searches on Thursday afternoon, asking him and others to explain the unaccounted-for money to them on 28 and November.

The I-T department deployed as many as 400 officials who, forming 65 teams, seized several incriminating documents, cash, and gold in the raids.

According to sources, the I-T teams found discrepancies between the income and the amount of tax paid to the department.

The department officials seized computers, hard discs, pen drives, and other electronic devices which they intend to examine for evidence of tax evasion.