Karnataka police Monday raided on the state's Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa's residence at Bangalore and at his home town in Shimoga in search of evidence in a corruption case.
Eshwarappa, who is also president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state unit is facing the corruption charges labeled by State's Lokayukta (ombudsman) who directed the police to raid for unearthing evidences and proofs against a corruption case.
The police raided at Eshwarappa's official residence in Bangalore and home in Shimoga, 280 km north of Bangalore, to probe the charge that he had amassed properties through corrupt means.
A police spokesperson told reporters in Bangalore that raids were being conducted to go through documents related to properties owned by Eshwarappa and members of his family.
Police have registered an FIR (First Information Report, marking the formal launch of the police probe) against Eshwarappa, his son K.E. Kantesh and daughter-in-law Shalini on a complaint by Shimoga advocate B. Vinod.
The complaint alleged that Eshwarappa had acquired huge properties in Shimoga through corrupt means.
The BJP chief, who is touring the north Karnataka town of Koppal, about 400 km from here, told reporters there that he welcomed the raids as "the truth would come out".
Fearing arrest following the FIR, Eshwarappa and his family members have sought anticipatory bail from a Shimoga court. Hearing of the plea would resume Dec 27.
Eshwarappa has rejected Congress demands for resignation as deputy chief minister to ensure a "fair" probe.
He is the latest BJP leader in Karnataka to face corruption cases.
Around 20 of the party's 118 members, including several ministers in the 225-member assembly, are fighting corruption cases in Bangalore courts.
--With IANS Inputs--
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