Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Nov 8: D K Shivakumar (DKS), minister of energy, who is under inquest of the Income Tax (IT) department, believes that his movements are being monitored closely, in addition to the tapping of his phone. The minister told this to reporters at Bengaluru on Tuesday, November 7.
It might be recalled that M B Patil, minister for water resources, conveyed to the chief minister that his phone is being allegedly tapped by the officials of the central government just a day ago.
IT authorities conducted a raid on DKS's home in August this year when he was taking care of more than 40 Congress legislators from Gujarat who were put up in a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat.
He did not say explicitly the names of the departments or people who are responsible for pursuing him or tapping his phone. According to the minister, there are numerous agencies who are authorized by the government departments to tap phones and he cannot say as to who is assigned this job in his case.
He showed his resentment against a Kannada TV news channel, which reportedly said that he is probed by the Enforcement Directorate. Rebuking the channel he said "Beware, I am the rock of Kanakapura. If you hit your head against it, your head will break."
Of late, The Congress and the BJP have accused each other of tapping phones of their party bigwigs. Recently, R Ashoka, BJP leader made an allegation against the ruling Congress of tapping the phones of several BJP leaders. Responding to this allegation, Ramalinga Reddy, home minister, said that the cental government ruled by BJP is tapping the phones of many Congress leaders of the state.
Shivakumar stays away from IT department hearing
DKS stayed away from the income tax department's (IT) hearing that was scheduled to take place for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, November 7.
On Monday, when Shivakumar had appeared with family members for the hearing in tune with the summons issued, he was asked by officials to appear for hearing alone on Tuesday. As an important meeting of all the deputy commissioners of the state presided over by chief minister, Siddarmaiah, and meeting of house committee that is looking into power purchase scam were scheduled to take place on Tuesday, he did not attend the hearing, sources revealed.
As Shivakumar has to attend a meeting in Bihar in connection with the department of power, the minster may not appear for hearing on Wednesday too, the sources stated.