Karnataka excise scam allegation: BJP-JD(S) go for overnight agitation inside Karnataka Assembly
Bengaluru (PTI): The BJP and its ally JD(S) on Tuesday launched an overnight agitation in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly demanding state Excise Minister R B Timmapur’s resignation over allegations of corruption in his department.
The BJP alleged widespread corruption in the Excise Department, and bribe is demanded to issue liquor licences.
Opposition leader R Ashoka charged that the alleged scam is to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore.
He also alleged that the money was being used by the ruling Congress to fund the party in the poll-bound states.
The opposition had been alleging corruption in the department. The recent trigger was the arrest of Excise Deputy Commissioner of the Bengaluru Urban District Jagadeesh Naik and two other officials by the Lokayukta sleuths, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh on January 16.
According to Lokayukta officials, they were accused of demanding Rs 80 lakh to issue CL-7 (Hotels & Boarding Houses) and micro brewery licence.
The Minister had declined the BJP’s demand for his resignation, saying no ministers during the BJP government had ever stepped down.
"Corruption is not a new phenomenon, especially in my department," the minister said in the Assembly while replying to the opposition’s charge.
Timmapur said he was instrumental in reducing the corruption at every level and simplified the process of issuing licences after holding discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
There have been allegations against all the ministers by the Federation of Wine Merchants’ Association, right from J H Patel, Renukaswamy and Katta Subramanya Naidu. Now the federation has been non-existent for the past 20 years, the Minister said.
"After I became Minister, I simplified the process and brought in the system of counselling. I made a provision for renewal every five years because doing it annually makes it a problem. Wasn’t that a change? There were 16 login need for CL-7 where everyone used to delay the process. I reduced these logins to seven,” Timmapur claimed.
He said he knows that there are people having 20 to 100 benami licences.
"Shouldn’t the people from the weaker section get the licences? That’s why I brought E-Auction," the minister said.
As the BJP alleged that the officer caught by Lokayukta had mentioned the name of the minister in a purported audio, Timmapur said there were clear audios of a former chief minister involved in horse trading, but in his case, the officer in question was only misusing his name.
He added that there were many scams during the BJP rule, including the egg scam, APMC scam, Bhovi Development Corporation scam, Devaraj Urs Terminal scam, Ganga Kalyana scheme scam, Tourism department scam, KEONICS scam, Bitcoin, COVID-19 scam and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and his son and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra’s property scams.
"How many ministers resigned? No one resigned. I introduced many reforms after discussing with the CM. My involvement is nil. Should I resign? What mistake I have I committed? I reject all these bogus stories of my involvement in corruption," he said.
He challenged the BJP leaders to prove their allegation.
“Your charges will neither bother me nor will it bog me down. I don’t need to resign,” Timmapur asserted.
Unsatisfied with the reply, the opposition raised slogans against the Congress government and the minister.
As the chaos continued, Speaker U T Khader adjourned the House for the day. Soon, the BJP and JD(S) MLAs trooped into the well of the House and started shouting slogans against the Congress government, demanding the minister's resignation.
Ashoka announced an overnight demonstration. The videos and photographs shared by Ashoka's office showed MLAs standing in the well of the House holding posters and placards.
"Until the minister resigns, we will hold the agitation inside the House," Ashoka said.
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Surveillance intensified in Bengal border districts as killers of Suvendu's PA may flee out of state
Kolkata (PTI): Police stations in border districts of West Bengal intensified surveillance and searches as investigators suspect the involvement of professional shooters from neighbouring states in the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide, a senior officer said on Friday.
The police are also investigating the role of local criminals who might have provided logistical support to the assailants, he said.
More than 36 hours after Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath was assassinated by motorcycle-borne gunmen at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, the police are yet to make any arrest.
“A detailed investigation is underway. The manner in which the attack was carried out suggests extensive reconnaissance and the possible involvement of hired sharpshooters from outside the state,” a senior police officer told PTI.
He also said all police stations in border districts have been alerted.
"Checks are being carried out at multiple points, and CCTV footage from areas along Jessore Road is being thoroughly scanned,” another senior officer said.
According to probe findings, the gunmen allegedly followed Rath’s vehicle before launching the attack.
“The escape route of the gunmen indicates that they were familiar with the locality, or local criminals might have assisted them. Without local support, fleeing through the lanes so quickly would have been difficult,” the officer added.
The police, however, are yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder.
The police and detective department officers have launched extensive searches in and around Madhyamgram near Kolkata.
Heavy deployment of police and central forces has also been made in the area since the murder occurred on Wednesday night.
"A motorcycle used in the crime was registered in 2012 in the name of a resident of Burnpur in Asansol. However, the police found that no person by that name currently resides at the address given during the vehicle registration process," another officer said.
