Third charge sheet filed against Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja
Allegations include obstruction of forest department officials in land dispute
Belthangady: Another charge sheet has been lodged against Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja in the Bengaluru People's Representatives Court, alongside 17 other individuals, including Vidhan Parishad member Pratap Simha Naik.
The case stems from an incident approximately eight months ago when a dispute arose between officials and public representatives during the attempted eviction of encroached forest department land in Kalenja village. In response to the eviction, MLA Harish Poonja and BJP workers reportedly reconstructed a house at the contested site. Subsequently, when forest department officials moved to vacate the structure on October 9, 2023, Poonja, Naik, and others allegedly obstructed their efforts, leading to a significant altercation.
The Dharmasthala police, following an investigation, filed a charge sheet on June 1, citing obstruction of official duty against the accused individuals.
This marks the third charge sheet against MLA Harish Poonja, following prior allegations related to his involvement in illegal stone pelting and subsequent disturbances at the Belthangady police station, as well as his purported participation in a protest held without permission, which reportedly involved threats against the police.
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Congress victory in bypolls not a clean chit to CM in MUDA case: R Ashoka
Srirangapatna (Karnataka), Nov 24: The Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Sunday said the Congress party’s victory in the bypolls held for three assembly constituencies is not a clean chit to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA scam.
He said the case is still going on in the court of law.
“MUDA case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is still in court but he is calling the bye-election result itself as a clean chit. Only courts can give clean chit and not the elections,” Ashoka said while addressing a gathering in Taggalli in Srirangapatna.
Later, speaking to reporters, Ashoka said results of the bypoll held for three assembly constituencies of Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur is a victory of money and not a victory of Congress. The BJP leader said his party’s fight will continue against the corruption of the Congress government.
ALSO READ; Have won in people’s court, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on by-poll results
Separately, in a post on social media ‘X’, Ashoka said the ruling Congress is under the illusion that they have won three worlds just by winning the by-election by diverting money and winning the votes of one community through appeasement politics.
He took a dig at Siddaramaiah for his statement that the opposition had spread lies with regard to the allegation of "Rs 89 crore embezzlement" in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation.
“Didn't you yourself admit in the Karnataka assembly that crores of money were misappropriated in the Valmiki Corporation, is that a lie?” Ashoka questioned.
He has also asked the CM whether returning of 14 sites by his wife Parvathi B M in the MUDA scam was an indirect confession of his crime. “Is it a lie when the Karnataka High Court loudly said that an investigation is needed against you in the MUDA scam?” the BJP leader asked.
