IT sleuths raid KGF Babu's houses, offices

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Income Tax (IT) department raided residences and offices of expelled Congress leader KGF Babu on Wednesday. The purpose of the raids and specifics of the inspection have not yet been made public. According to sources, Income Tax officials have been raiding many places in Bengaluru ahead of the state Assembly elections.

The officials are also carrying out raids at 50 different locations, apart from KGF Babu’s home, according to reports. The officials inspected Babu's places in Bengaluru around 5.30 am. Earlier too, IT officials raided the residence of KGF Babu. On May 28 last year, a raid was carried out by IT officials under suspicions of income tax evasion.

Officials also raided Ruksana Palace and an office owned by KGF Babu and checked records. KGF Babu, whose real name is Yousuf Shariff, was expelled in January from the Congress after he made negative comments against the party, going on to say that the Congress would not secure even 80 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls.

In his affidavit to the Electoral Commission in 2021, Shariff, who ran for Congress in the Legislative Council elections from Bengaluru Urban, reported assets close to Rs 1,700 crore. He was employed by Bharat Gold Mines’ scrap material section and grew up in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). If he were not given the Chickpet ticket to run, he intended to run as an Independent candidate.

KGF Babu’s wife submitted nomination papers for the Chickpet Assembly seat just a few days back. Interestingly, the total value of his assets, including that of his wife, has decreased by Rs 121 crore compared to what he stated during the 2018 elections.