Drugs case: Kumaraswamy questions reports about ex-CM's alleged interference in probe
Bengaluru: JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday took strong exception to media reports that a former Chief Minister was allegedly contacted for help by popular television anchor Anushree who was recently questioned by Mangaluru CCB police in connection with a drug case, and demanded that the identity be revealed.
Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, while questioning the credibility of such information being reported, which has the potential to malign people, also sought to know whether an attempt was being made to mislead the people, using the media, and wanted the truth to come out.
"....I have been following reports in the media about the ongoing investigation into drug cases. Every day, there are reports stating that children of politicians, businessmen, and influential people are involved and no action is being taken against them. Fictitious stories are also emerging every day," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said media reports quoting CCB sources say Anushree's caller list revealed that she got in touch with influential political leaders of the state as soon as she got the CCB notice to appear for questioning.
The reports speak about a former Chief Minister, a former Chief Minister's son, and an influential politician, he said.
Listing the names of a few former Chief Ministers, including him, Kumaraswamy asked "which officer has given such information to the media? on what basis a former Chief Minister is being named? Who is he? His name has to be revealed."
Objecting to officials revealing the details to the media, when the investigation is underway, Kumaraswamy said a reference has been made to a former Chief Minister, without mentioning the name and the government has to bring out the truth.
"Whoever the former chief minister is, whether it is me or anyone, if he has pressurized or she (Anushree) has spoken to him, it has to be revealed before the public.
I have spoken to Mangaluru Police Commissioner also and asked him to clarify," he said.
In case the police have not revealed any information and the media has created it, the government has to take action against the media, he said, and demanded that the government bring out the truth, reveal the identity, and get it investigated.
Asking the media to report responsibly, so that no one is unnecessarily maligned, Kumaraswamy sought an investigation into the alleged involvement of a CCB officer in revealing the information and its authenticity.
He said he was also writing to the Chief Minister and Home Minister about stopping such media reports that unnecessarily malign people and mislead people without any truth.
In response to a question, he also termed it as a conspiracy to malign people ahead of the November 3 state assembly bypolls.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
