Bengaluru: Breaking his silence on the political storm that has erupted in the State after contents of the controversial ‘Govindraju’ diary were selectively leaked to a media house the Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), Karnataka & Goa, Mr. B.R. Balakrishnan on Monday said that the alleged leak didn’t take place from his jurisdictional states.
“We didn’t leak any diary to anyone. I can assure you that the Income Tax Department, Karnataka & Goa has not leaked any information. Those, who are in possession of the alleged leaked information, should be asked for the source,” he replied to questions on whether the contents of the diary were leaked from Bengaluru.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a press meet on the "unprecedented" and 'record' tax collection in the country from Karnataka & Goa for the financial year 2016’17.
MLC K Govindaraju’s house was raided by Income Tax officials in March last year and the I-T sleuths had reportedly seized a diary, which contained the initials of the names of many Congress leaders, and amounts in crores of rupees against them, which were purportedly paid or received.
Mr. Balakrishnan said that Mr. Govindrau had filed a police complaint in Indiranagar police station that the diary did not belong to him and was planted in his house.
“In response we have sent a letter with details to the Police Commissioner, Bengaluru City. Mr Govindraju had sought some clarifications from us and we have replied to his letter as well,” Mr Balakrishnan said, refusing to talk any further on the matter.
Some of the politicians, whose initials had reportedly figured in the diary have deposed before the Department after they were summoned. “They have denied payment or receipt of any money,” said an official source. He added that in itself the diary has no evidence value. "It needs a detailed investigation," he added.
Another source said the I-T Department has to share critical information on tax evasion, non-disclosure of income or undisclosed income in highly sensitive cases to the Finance Ministry for further evaluation and required action by other enforcement agencies like the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.
