Kumaraswamy had threatened to protest against “misuse of institutions”

Hours after Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy claimed that “revenge politics” was afoot through “misuse of Central agencies”, the Income Tax Department began search and seizure operations at multiple locations in the city late on Wednesday night.

While most I-T search and seizure operations begin early in the morning, this began late Wednesday night. Those raided include a businessman who is politically linked, sources said.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Kumaraswamy had said that the Income Tax Department was working to “carry out politically targeted raids.” He even threatened to sit on a protest against “politics of vendetta and misuse of institutions” like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“Usually, the I-T Department conducts raids in the State with protection from the State police. But I have information that the I-T Department has brought the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to conduct raids on Thursday. Over 200 cabs have been kept ready at the airport to take officers,” he had said.

“These are politically motivated raids on people linked to the Congress and JD(S). I directly accuse B.R. Balakrishna [Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and Director General (Investigations), Karnataka and Goa] of this motivated action. The I-T officials will have to repent if they act as agents of a political party,” said the Chief Minister.

Further, in a tweet, he said: “Hon’ble PM @NarendraModi is misusing the Income Tax Department threaten the political leaders of Karnataka from JDS and Congress during election time. They have planned to conduct I-T raids on our important leaders. This is nothing but revenge politics. We will not be cowed down by this.”

The Congress had petitioned the Central Board of Direct Taxes against Mr. Balakrishna alleging politically motivated action against the party in the run up to the May 2018 Assembly elections. In a first, the party even held a protest in front of the I-T Department in the city.