(Image source from: gulte.com/)

The Income Tax officials conducted surprise raids on the premises of controversial self-styled godman Kalki Bhagwan and his son Krishna. The raids started in over 40 premises of Kalki and hiss son across Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The IT officials managed to seize Rs 33 crores which also includes Rs 9 crores worth US dollars. The massive operation involved over 300 IT officials. The search started on Wednesday and continued till last night. There are talks that the officials are in plans to continue the searches on Friday too. Several important documents have been seized from the premises of Kalki Bhagwan and his son Krishna.

The raids followed intelligence inputs about tax evasion and financial embezzlement. The raids are majorly focused on the sprawling headquarters of Kalki Bhagwan near Chittoor bordering Tamil Nadu. Kalki’s son Krishna, who is managing the ‘Oneness Temple,’ a spiritual university with ultra modern facilities. Krishna is said to have invested heavily in the business ventures of his associates which came into IT scanner. Over 20 of his associates are currently being investigated. The 70-year-old Kalki Bhagwan alias Vijay Kumar Naidu, born at Ullanatham village near Gudiyattam in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, started his life as a clerk with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).

He declared himself as Kalki in 1989 and floated his own ashram. At the ashram, an ordinary darshan of the couple is priced at Rs 5000 and special darshan at Rs 50000.