Bengaluru: Minister for Small Scale Industries Ramesh Jarkiholi has rubbished reports of Income Tax (I-T) sleuths seizing Rs 41 lakh cash during their recent raid on his premises. “Forget Rs 41 lakh, I will quit even if somebody proves that even Rs 5 lakh cash was found in my premises during the I-T raids,” Jarkiholi declared here on Wednesday.

Minister Jarkiholi’s denial comes in the wake of Opposition demand for his resignation following reports of I-T officials unearthing undisclosed assets worth Rs 162 crore and seizure of 41 lakh cash, besides over 12 kg gold and jewellery from the premises of Jarkiholi and Karnataka Mahila Congress president Lakshmi Hebbalkar.

Speaking with media persons who met the minister at his residence, Jarkiholi said, “It was Rs 41,000 not Rs 41 lakh that was found at my residence. I do not know as to who is circulating these false reports about the assets found at my premises. Forget Rs 41 lakh, I will quit even if Rs 5 lakh was found to have been seized from my home,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa has demanded the resignation of Minister for Small Scale Industries Ramesh Jarkiholi. “It is quite amusing to hear from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that he was not aware of I-T raids on the premises of Minister Jarkiholi. I demand Minister Jarkiholi to submit resignation without any delay,’’ Yeddyurappa said.

However, Chief Minister Siddramaiah, while speaking with media persons in Mysuru, said that he was yet to receive the information from the I-T department and explanation from Minister Jarkiholi. “Appropriate action will be taken based on the information from the I-T department and the explanation from Minister Jarkiholi,’’ Siddaramaiah said.