BRS MLAs, MP face I-T raids over tax evasion, illegal transactions

Officials of the Income Tax (I-T) Department on Wednesday raided the offices and residences of three senior BRS leaders, two MLAs and an MP, in Telangana state and Bengaluru, over suspicions of alleged tax evasion and illegal investments.

As many as 70 I-T teams simultaneously conducted the raids, collecting details of the business activities of the three persons, namely Medak MP Kotha Prabhakar Reddy, Nagarkurnool MLA Marri Janardhan Reddy and Bhongir MLA P. Sekhar Reddy.

Sources said that the three leaders also had stakes in other businesses. Janardhan Reddy is a director of mainland Digital Technologies and Hilland Technologies, besides having investments in the real estate business. Prabhakar Reddy owns shopping malls and runs a travel agency, as well as a real estate business.

Sekhar Reddy, meanwhile, is alleged to have links with slain gangster Mohammed Nayeem. He also runs a real estate business, besides running other businesses in Telangana and Bengaluru. 

It was also reported that Sekhar Reddy allegedly obtained immovable properties previously occupied by the gangster in Bhongir and other places in Telangana. His family also has a real estate business in Bengaluru.

The raids started around 5.30 am



on Wednesday, with I-T teams, accompanied by central forces, arriving at Lumbini Villas in Kondapur, where Prabhakar Reddy resides.

Officials, saying that the MP was present at home at the time of the raids, collected documents, computers and other necessary materials, besides questioning the MP about his business activities and perusing through his GST and I-T return filings.

At Janardhan Reddy’s residence, located in Jubilee Hills, the MLA’s mother Amruthamma collapsed due to the shock of being raided. She was shifted to a hospital in the vicinity and is said to be in stable condition. I-T officials later collected the MLA’s records, bank details and business activities.

Sekhar Reddy, meanwhile, is suspected of indulging in benami activities and illegal financial transactions. I-T officials, in a raid at an LB Nagar premises of the MLA, found his involvement in real estate and other business activities. The premises of his family members in Bengaluru was also searched, officials said.

I-T officials are probing Sekhar Reddy’s accounts to check for any transaction between the MLA and Nayeem, as he is alleged to have bought properties from the gangster before he was killed.