Karnataka's ruling Congress slammed the searches by Income Tax officials on Wednesday at multiple locations of state Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, terming it an attempt to intimidate and defame the party.

"The tax raids on our senior minister's home in the city, at a resort near here and in his house in New Delhi are politically motivated to silence our voice against the BJP," said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a statement hours after the raids began.