Our Bureau The Telugu Desam Party MP and businessman CM Ramesh has accused the Centre of victimising the leaders and parties that have been opposing it with the help of Income Tax Department and other central agencies.

He was addressing a press conference here on Sunday on the searches conducted by the I-T Department sleuths in his residence here and business establishments across the State.

The TDP Rajya Sabha member was elected to the committee through voting in spite of the BJP’s efforts to keep him away from the PAC. The IT search followed his letter to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) seeking details of such searches conducted in States other than Andhra Pradesh in the recent past, he claimed.

The officials did not specify the reasons for searches in his residences and offices. “Even the search warrant carried by the officials was wrong as it stated that his wife was Director of Rithwik Project Pvt Ltd,” he said.

The IT officials found ₹3.53 lakh cash from his residence, collection of offerings made to god, a computer used by his son to watch films and another ₹73,000 cash in the company's office.

“I don't have any links with Pakistan or in possession of any defence or rocket science documents,” he said and termed the IT searches as “pure political vendetta” being pursued by the BJP.

comment COMMENT NOW