Our MLAs are being kidnapped, alleges Karnataka Congress in assembly
Bengaluru, Jul 18: The Congress Thursday alleged in the Karnataka assembly its MLA Shreemant Patil, who suddenly disappeared after being with them at a resort and went incommunicado, had been 'kidnapped' as part of efforts to 'topple' the coalition government.
As the assembly debated the confidence motion moved by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, senior minister D K Shivakumar alleged Patil was kidnapped and admitted to a hospital in Mumbai.
Patil's photographs emerged showing him lying on a bed in a hospital and undergoing ECG related tests.
Raising the issue, Shivakumar said "With folded hands I am requesting the Speaker of the house, my party MLAs have been kidnapped.I have got a call from the family members. I want you to bring them back sir. We want police protection."
The Congress MLAs said in unison that the lawmakers were living in fear and Patil was kidnapped, kept in a room, taken by a special flight and then admitted to a hospital.
Shivakumar said they would produce documents to show that Patil was forcibly admitted to the hospital to skip assembly.
"I have documentary evidence. He is being held in a hospital... Patil traveled with Lakshman Savadi (former BJP MLA) in the flight," he alleged.
Congress state president Dinesh Gundu Rao alleged Patil was with him till Wednesday, attended a meeting and was in good health. However, suddenly he disappeared from the resort, where his party MLAs were staying.
Rao said, "When we tried to check where he had gone, we could not find him. He was in good health but see the drama of the BJP."
The remark led to pandemonium with BJP shouting him down amid acrimonious exchanges between the treasury benches and the opposition.
Intervening, Kumaraswamy said "In the case of Patil, you must explain, who sent his photos on WhatsApp, who travelled with him in the flight. The speaker has the responsibility to safeguard the MLAs since numbers matter in the vote."
C T Ravi of the BJP told the Congress members Patil was in their 'custody' only and they were making the allegation against his party as they lacked numbers.
"They don't have the numbers. They are playing this game."
The Speaker then asked "Should I blindfold myself and say I have no relation with it? Where are we heading?"
He told the House that he got a letter, not written on the letterhead, purportedly by Patil saying he had developed chest pain and had been hospitalised.
"Evidence before me is that it is not natural.... I am disturbed," the speaker said and directed Home Minister M B Patil to get in touch with the MLA's family and enquire about his condition and report back to him.
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Belagavi businessman loses Rs 15.4 crore in digital arrest scam; money siphoned off over six weeks
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Belagavi: An 81-year-old businessman from Belagavi was allegedly cheated of nearly Rs 15.45 crore in a digital arrest scam that continued for almost six weeks, The Hindu reported on Saturday.
The victim has been identified as Ajit Gopalkrishna Saraf. According to a complaint filed by his son, Saraf received a call on February 5 from a person claiming to be a CBI officer, who accused him of being involved in a financial scandal.
The caller, who identified himself as K. Siva Subramanyam, allegedly produced fake documents purportedly issued by the CBI and the RBI vigilance cell, and claimed that Saraf had dealings with Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways and was involved in money laundering.
In the following days, another person, posing as George Mathew from the RBI vigilance wing, joined the calls. They allegedly asked Saraf to provide details of his fixed deposits and stock market investments, and allegedly forced him to liquidate his FDs and investments held with Motilal Oswal.
Fearing arrest, Saraf reportedly did not inform his family and transferred all the money under his control to accounts specified by the fraudsters. Police said the victim had not come out of his room for days.
The fraud came to light only when his son visited him during the Ugadi holidays.
A case has been registered at the Belagavi Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) Police Station, and officials said the investigation is likely to be transferred to the CID.
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