Bellary, Karnataka, Oct 26 (UNI) A large contingent of Income Tax Department officials, backed by police force today conducted simultaneous raids on the offices, homes and mines belonging to a number of mine owners in Bellary, Sandur and Hospet in this district today.

The day-long raid was conducted on homes and offices belonging to former Karnataka Tourism Minister Sriramulu, member of Parliament G Karunakara Reddy, his brother and MLC G Janardhana Reddy, district BJP chief Somashekar Reddy and many of their relatives.

Official sources said the raids on about 50 locations that began simultaneously. However, the nature of seizure was not immediately known. Officials barred the media from going near the homes and office as police had put barricades. IT officials in Bangalore refused to reveal the details of the raids.

IT officials, who arrived with police force from Bangalore and Davanagere, swung into action early in the morning and stayed till late in the evening.

Mr Sriramulu speaking to reporters in Bellary accused that the raids were the result of the BJP leaders from the district exposing the 'corrupt' ways of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his family.

Expressing same views Janardhana Reddy said he had not evaded paying any tax and all his accounts was in perfect order. The officials were free to carry out their work, he said.

UNI