Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 23: The Income Tax (IT) officials, who have found that Rs 2.3 crore that they had seized from the stepney of a car that was moving towards Shivamogga from the city belonged to M J Appaji Gowda, a JD(S) leader from Bhadravati.

Gowda was subjected to intensive questioning by IT officials on Monday April 22.

The officials had chased the car as soon as it left Bengaluru. The car, which was moving at high speed, was intercepted near Nelamangala and Rs 2.3 crore that was found stuffed into the car stepney in the denomination of Rs 2,000 notes were recovered, sources said.

M J Appaji Gowda

The officials said they were tipped about the model of the car, registration number and colour, based on which a few cars began trailing the said car. After the car was stopped, people who mend punctures were called to cut open the stepney. After questioning the car driver and those accompanying him, the department concluded that the money belonged to Appaji Gowda, it is learnt.

As names of Mayi, Sharan, Imran and Radhakrishna also emerged during the questioning, they have been served with notices asking them to appear before the IT officials.

Appaji Gowda reportedly said that the money represented sale proceedings of a site he had in Bengaluru that was sold ten months back, and the money was being transported now.

JD(S) workers expressed resentment at the officials for summoning their leaders at a time when election is round the corner. They accused BJP of hatching this conspiracy for stopping these leaders from addressing election rallies.