No Congress MLAs searched in Bengaluru resort: Arun Jaitly on Karnataka I-T raids

Jaitley made the comment in the Rajya Sabha while countering the Congress' claims of using the state machinery to pressurise the opposition parties.

The Income Tax officers raided Karnataka Energy Minister's Eagleton Golf Resort, where 44 Gujarat Congress lawmakers are presently staying, reports said.

DK Shivakumar's other properties that came under IT raids include his homes in Kanakapura and Sadashivanagar.

Congress leader in the Upper House, Anand Sharma, said: "It has become a fashion to use the state machinery against the opposition parties-be it I-T or Enforcement Directorate (ED) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)."

He said the raids were  significant considering its timing and the venue, particularly when Congress MLAs of Gujarat are present in the resort.

The Congress flew 44 of its lawmakers to Bengaluru ahead of Aug 8 Rajya Sabha polls.

The party has accused BJP of poaching its lawmakers.

Brushing off the claims made by the Congress, Jaitley said the raids had to take place in the resort since the Karnataka minister "parked" himself there.

Congress has also accused the incumbent Gujarat government of trying to lure 22 Congress lawmakers by offering Rs 15 crores and asking them for cross-voting during the polls.

Image: Official Twitter handle of Arun Jaitley.