I-T Dept. searches Energy Minister George’s office, Bescom contractors linked to smart metres: sources

The Income Tax Department is learnt to have conducted search operations at the office of Karnataka’s Energy Minister K.J. George at Embassy Golf Links, Domlur, in Bengaluru.

Mr. George has been away in Japan on an official visit and was not present during the search operations, sources said. He was unavailable for a comment when The Hindu tried to reach him. 

The I-T sleuths have also searched offices of around seven contractors linked to procurement of smart meters by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), in Bengaluru and Davanagere, sources said. The Income Tax Department has not issued any statement and there is no clarity on whether the searches on Mr. George’s office were also linked to smart meters. 

The searches were on for the past two days and reportedly concluded on Wednesday.

BJP’s allegation

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged a ₹7,500-crore scam in the procurement of smart meters, pointing out several lapses while awarding contracts for procurement leading to escalation of costs. The Energy Department and Mr. George have, however, denied all allegations.

Three BJP MLAs— C. N. Ashwath Narayan, S.R. Vishwanath and Dheeraj Muniraj — lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta police seeking a probe in April, 2025. Recently, they approached the Lokayukta Special Court and filed a Private Complaint Report (PCR) citing delay by the Lokayukta Police to file an FIR. The court sought a status report on the complaint from the police on July 23.