Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 24: The income tax (IT) officials, who had swooped on the houses and offices of Muniyalu Uday Kumar Shetty on Wednesday January 23, have continued their scrutiny on the second straight day today.

In the meantime, some Congress workers have been alleging that the IT raid was precipitated by the fact that Muniyalu had posted a photograph of himself in the company of former union minister and Rajya Sabha member, Ahmed Patel, recently in his Facebook page. Shetty had reportedly met Patel in the recent past.

The IT officials had also raided the house and offices of a crusher owner, identified as Joy.

It is said that the officials posed themselves as people involved with spreading awareness about monkey fever and their vehicle had a poster announcing this fact. That is why, this vehicle was allowed entry into the compound of Uday Kumar Shetty, it is said.

The house and cashew factory of Uday Kumar Shetty at Muniyalu, a fish mill at Kota and another house at Perampalli, Manipal, were simultaneously raided by the officials. They continue to verify documents. It is gathered that they continued with the scrutiny of documents late into the night on Wednesday.

These raids have given rise to the rumour that more businessmen in the district might face similar raids shortly.

Of late, Muniyalu Uday Kumar Shetty has been growing into an influential leader of Congress party and his popularity is rising. His meteoric rise has made some established leaders jealous, it is said. Shetty has also been eyeing Congress ticket for the upcoming Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha election, it is said. During last year's assembly election, he had fought for party ticket from Karkala constituency. Although he was projected as most-likely candidate, at the last minute, he had lost out in the race.

There have been claims that two senior Congress leaders from the district, who are hell bent on retaining their hold in the party, are behind this raid.