Bengaluru: Karnataka RDPR Minister K. Eshwarappa has said that he has filed a defamation case against the civil contractor and Hindu Yuva Vahini National Secretary Santhosh Patil who alleged that the minister was demanding commission for the payment of completed road works.
Reacting to the allegation labeled against him by Patil, the Minister said he did not demand a commission for releasing the payment of completed work and that the allegations made against him are fabricated.
“The allegation against me about having asked the commission to release the payment for the remainder of the completed work is fabricated. I have filed a defamation case against the Belagavi-based contractor and ‘Hindu Vahini’ National Secretary Santhosh. K. Patil who has made this accusation against me”, he informed.
Earlier on Monday, Patil wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the matter adding that he was under pressure from his creditors and if the issue is not resolved soon, he will have no options left but to commit suicide.
In his letter, Patil had alleged that Eshwarappa and his associates were demanding commission for releasing his payment of Rs. 4 crores for completed road work even after a year of completion of the work. He also alleged that the Minister was not releasing the work order for the same.
Eshwarappa however, has claimed that Patil had not sought any grant from his department and that the government had not approved any work that Patil claims to have completed.
“Santhosh K. Patil did not seek any grant from the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and the government did not provide approval to undertake the said work. The department had not issued any direction regarding this construction work and neither were the administrative grants given. Construction work as said by Santhosh K. Patil has not been implemented at the Hindalaga village. No government agency has provided technical grants or taken charge of this construction work. The department head has provided clarification that therefore, the matter of releasing funds does not arise”, Eeshwarappa said.
“It has come to my attention that on March 9, Santhosh K. Patil had fabricated allegations against me on TV. In the background of this, on March 10, I have registered a defamation lawsuit against Santhosh K. Patil at the 6th Main Metropolitan Court. He will be issued a notice tomorrow”, Eeshwarappa said.
He further added that Patil is not a BJP activist and that there is no connection between him and the party.
Responding to the question of the media, the Minister said, “I don’t know who is behind the conspiracy of accusing me of demanding commission. After contacting the party’s Belagavi District President today morning and inquiring, I learned that Santhosh K. Patil and BJP have no connection. He is not our activist or worker”, he said.
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New Delhi (PTI): Actor Nora Fatehi on Thursday appeared before the National Commission for Women in connection with a controversy surrounding the song 'Sarke Chunar' and apologised, saying there was "no intention to offend anybody."
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Fatehi said she had been put in a situation unintentionally but acknowledged her responsibility as an artist.
"It was just a situation that I was put in, and there was no intention to offend anybody. But of course, I have to be responsible as an artiste. I definitely apologise, we have done everything in writing. They have been so kind and helpful," she said.
The actor also said she has decided to sponsor the education of a few orphan girls.
"It's really important for us to give back to society. So, I decided that we should sponsor a few orphan girls, their education, so that is the goal after this matter," she said.
Earlier, Fatehi distanced herself from the Hindi version of the song, saying she had shot the Kannada version and that her permission was not taken for its use in Hindi.
The Hindi version of the song, released on March 15 on YouTube, triggered outrage among a section of the public over its allegedly explicit lyrics.
Following the backlash, the makers removed the Hindi version from YouTube, though it continued to circulate across platforms. The lyricist, singer and director have also issued apologies.
'KD The Devil' is a Kannada film, dubbed in four languages, including Hindi.
