New Delhi: The Income Tax Department on Wednesday conducted searches at multiple locations in Karnataka and Delhi related to Karnataka Energy Minister DK Shivkumar, in connection with a tax evasion probe case. 

Officials privy to the early morning raids said a team of I-T sleuths have also reached the private resort near Bengaluru to question the Minister, who was staying at the resort for the night. Shivkumar is hosting his party’s MLAs from Gujarat at a Bengaluru resort till the day of the Rajya Sabha elections on the 8th of this month. 

Reports said that the Income Tax Department on Wednesday conducted searches at 64 locations and properties linked to Karnataka Energy Minister DK Shivakumar, in connection with a tax evasion case. The raid was conducted with a team of about 120 Income Tax officials with the aid of central paramilitary force. 

IT officials said about Rs.10 crore cash has been recovered during the raids at various properties linked to the Minister. While about Rs.7.9 crore cash has been recovered from Delhi, about Rs.2.23 crore has been found at locations in the southern State.  

A good amount of jewellery has also been recovered during the raid. Officials privy to the action said the department is investigating Shivakumar in a case of alleged tax evasion and huge undisclosed investments in real estate and other sectors. Meanwhile Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the IT raid as a political vendetta.