Less than a week after his daughter's ostentatious wedding made headlines, the Income Tax sleuths today raided former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy's Obulapuram mining company in Bellary, 300 km from Bengaluru.

Sources said a number of documents have been found and are being examined. His residence is also likely to be raided, sources added.

The income tax raid comes five days after the lavish wedding of the mining baron's daughter raised eyebrows for its pomp and grandeur - held at a time when millions were queueing up outside banks and ATMs for cash.



Reddy, a former BJP minister and one of the richest politicians in Karnataka, is one of the main accused in the Bellary illegal mining scam.

He is on bail after languishing for 40 months in jail for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore mining scam that rocked the southern state in 2010-11.

Also read: Why is the big fat Reddy wedding bothering us?



Though Reddy was maintaining low profile after his release in January 2015 on conditional bail by the Supreme Court, an expensive marriage invitation sent out with a LCD screen playing a pre-wedding video raised eyebrows and brought him back into limelight.

BIG, FAT REDDY WEDDING



Billed as one of the most expensive marriages in the sub-continent, the five-day grand event drew all-round flak and envy.

Reddy had hired the royal palace for five days starting November 12, invited several film stars from Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai and other celebrities for the reception.

Reddy had also got a replica built of the Vijayanagara empire at the venue and flown in cultural troupes from abroad, including Brazilian dancers.

Also read: 5 reasons why Janardhan Reddy's daughter's wedding could be a political move



Ahead of the wedding, Reddy told reporters on November 10 at his home town, Ballary, that he would give marriage expenditure account to the income tax department in a month. However, he had declined to share its estimate with the local media.

While an embarrassed BJP instructed its leaders to stay away from the Bengaluru wedding, a host of partymen including state president BS Yeddyurappa attended the blockbuster event.

Except for a local news channel, funded by Reddy, the media was barred from covering the wedding.

SEVEN LOCATIONS RAIDED IN HYDERABAD

Officials said that taxmen visited seven locations in Hyderabad of those event management companies which were given contracts to give a blockbuster look for the wedding of Bramhani last week here. Reddy is also a mining baron.

They said the department, after receiving reports of high spending for the event, initiated the action and is checking the account books, payment receipts and contract portfolios of these firms who specialise in creating special ambience and customised display for high-end spending clientele during their special events like weddings.

The firms include those providing special swiss tents, expensive cutlery, multi-cuisine food and pyrotechnic dealers who brought a lavish style to the event.

The questionnaire brought in by the IT dept in Bellary The questionnaire brought in by the IT dept in Bellary

Under the survey action, tax sleuths visit business premises of the trader/operator and make analysis of the available stock and record it whereas under search operations both residential and business premises are visited by the taxman and seizure of cash and incriminating documents, if any, is effected.

Once the scrutiny of accounts and contract books is done, they said, further action of issuing notices to investigate tax evasion by both the contractor and the contractee will be undertaken.

Also read: Brahmani Reddy weds Rajeev Reddy: Inside the Biggest Fattest Indian Wedding of 2016

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