ED, IT Raids On Granite Businesses, Gangula Kamalakar's House

Officials of the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted joint searches at the offices and residences of owners of granite firms, including Minister for Civil Supplies Gangula Kamalakar.

The simultaneous searches were on at about 20 locations in Hyderabad and Karimnagar, and the officials were reportedly checking the records and transactions at the offices of granite units at Panjagutta, Hyderguda, Somajiguda and other areas in Hyderabad.

For Kamalakar, the searches were carried out at the minister's house in Karimnagar town and also at the offices of granite units owned by his relatives in the Mankammathota and Kamaan areas.

As the minister's residence was locked, officials are said to have engaged a professional lock opener to enter the house.

Raids are also being conducted at the office of Swetha Granites in Mankammathota, owned by the minister.

The raids are said to be in the wake of complaints lodged by BJP State president and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar and BJP leader Perala Sekhar with the union government, alleging that several granite companies were avoiding paying taxes.

Based on the complaint, the Centre had issued notices to nine granite units, and imposed fines of Rs 749 crore on the units.