HD Kumaraswamy calls ADGP probing mining lease case against him as ‘blackmailer and criminal’
Bengaluru, Sep 29: Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday called ADGP of Lokayukta, M Chandra Sekhar, who heads the SIT probing the 2007 mining lease case, as a 'blackmailer' and 'criminal'.
"He (Sekhar) has addressed a letter to his colleagues. I know who prepared that letter and where. I will reveal it in due course of time," Kumaraswamy told reporters here.
In the letter, referred to by Kumaraswamy, Sekhar wrote, “Today an accused in Crime No. 16/14 of SIT, Sh H D Kumaraswamy, in a press conference made false and malicious allegations and threats.”
ALSO READ: Lokayukta ADGP M. Chandrasekhar calls Kumaraswamy’s allegations ‘false, malicious’
“As you know the SIT had sought the prosecution sanction of the accused from the competent authority. This accused, who is on bail, Sh H D Kumaraswamy, has done this to deter us from discharging our duties. It appears that his objective is to create fear in the minds of officers of SIT by attacking me.”
“But an ACCUSED, however high and mighty he may be, is an ACCUSED. Let us not get de-motivated by such allegations and threats. I as the head of SIT promise you that I will work without fear or favour and bring to justice all criminals and accused in our cases. I also promise you that I will protect you from all external influences.”
The illegal mining case pertains to allegations that Kumaraswamy, during his tenure as CM from 2006 to 2008, illegally approved a 550-acre mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateswara Minerals (SSVM) in Bellary district in violation of law.
In his response to the letter, Kumaraswamy said, “I might be an accused in this case, but ‘that officer’ is a criminal in disguise of a cop. There are allegations against him for a series of criminal activities."
“A blackmailer who has carried out loot around Bengaluru by building relationship…. I have documents,” he said.
Quoting writer George Berrnard Shaw, Sekhar said, “Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.”
But, we cannot avoid confronting criminals and accused, during discharge of our duty.”
According to Kumaraswamy, Sekhar hails from Andhra Pradesh and is a Himachal Pradesh cadre IPS officer.
“Instead of working in Himachal Pradesh, he is here for the past 25 years by harbouring some people. Why is he here? He is here because Himachal Pradesh weather doesn’t suit him...,” he alleged.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah preferred not to comment on the tussle between Kumaraswamy and the IPS officer.
“He (Kumaraswamy) has made some allegation on the ADGP. He (ADGP) has replied. I know only that much," he told reporters.
Asked how the officers have started commenting on the politicians, Siddaramaiah said, “He (Kumaraswamy) has made a mistake. Why someone comments on an officer? If the officer does something unlawful then the comment is justified.”
Regarding the usage of the word ‘pig’ by the ADGP, Siddaramaiah sought to know whether the officer had referred to anyone’s name. The officer has only quoted George Bernard Shaw.
“I am not going to comment on that. I will not interfere in that,” Siddaramaiah said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Will let my work talk: Raghav Chadha in Instagram post amid rift with AAP
New Delhi (PTI): Sidelined AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday shared on Instagram a video titled "Voice Raised Price Paid", a compilation of clips of him raising various issues in Parliament, amid his ongoing rift with his party.
"With due respect, to those who are questioning my parliamentary performance, I will let my work do the talking," he said in the post.
The AAP on April 2 removed Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and has accused him of shying away from raising his voice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre in Parliament and instead engaging in "soft PR".
A combative Chadha has dismissed the party's allegations as "lies" and said that he went to Parliament to raise people's issues and not to create ruckus.
Since his removal as the AAP's deputy leader in the Upper House, Chadha has shared several videos and posts on social media, making it clear that he will not take his demotion lying down.
