Post I-T Raid, Karnataka Ex-CM Yediyurappa's PA Sent Back To BMTC As Driver

Within a few hours of the raid, Karnataka Chief Minister's office issued orders to BMTC repatriate Umesh back to his home department.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Yediyurappa

Chennai: A day after raids were conducted at the home of personal assistant of former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Umesh MR, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) cancelled his deputation and repatriated him back to his home department on Friday.

According to a report on The Hindu, the income tax sleuths conducted raids in the properties belonging to Umesh on October 7. Within a few hours of the raid, Karnataka Chief Minister's office issued orders to BMTC repatriate Umesh back to his home department.

Hence, the personnel manager of BMTC issued the order with immediate effect. However, Umesh did not report to duty yet and is expected to join next week.

In 2008, Umesh was hired by BMTC as a driver-cum-conductor attached to Puttenahalli depot. Later, he received the posting as PA to Chief Minister. He worked with former CM BS Yediyurappa and continues to work with current CM Basavaraj Bommai. Usually the deputations will last only for 2-5 years but Umesh has served for 10 years. He is also allegedly close with Yediyurappa's office, said a report in Times of India.

Meanwhile, former Karnataka Chief Minister Yediyurappa said that he had nothing to do with the raids nor is it political or have bearing with the upcoming polls. The I-T department has done their own duty, he said. 

Meanwhile, the Income Tax Department conducted raids in the homes of the PA, a classmate of Yediyurappa's son Aravind and BJP state vice president BY Vijayendra. The raids were also conducted in the homes of CAs, contractors and industrialists in Bengaluru, Belagavi and other cities on Thursday. The raids were conducted after alleged discrepancies in the scheme implemented by Karnataka water resources department to irrigate Cauvery and Krishna basin in the past two years.

There were also allegations by former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy who said that the raids were conducted to suppress Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra's domination in the party.