Fresh Charges Levelled Against Yeddy, JD(S) Seeks Resignation

Bangalore, Jun 22: Chief minister Yeddyurappa's troubles never seem to be getting over. JD (S) chief in the state H D Kumaraswamy has come up with fresh charges of corruption against the CM, alleging him of acquiring a cement company through fraudulent means.

Demanding Yeddyurappa's resignation, Kumaraswamy alleged that Yeddyurappa and his family had aquired Ratna Cements in Belgaum through this Kolkata-based company illegally.

He claimed that 'big fishes' of BJP were involved in the new scam, and said that their names will be out in the open if the central government investigates a non-banking financial company in Kolkata.

Elaborating, Kumaraswamy said that Yeddyurappa's family had acquired the NBFC, Indravir Kutir, in Kolkata in 2009 to fraudulently acquire Ratna Cements in Belgaum.

He said the cement firm had incurred heavy losses and also not paid around Rs.7 crore to Karnataka State Industrial Investment & Development Corporation. "Yeddyurappa who was deputy chief minister in 2006 handling finance portfolio and the then industries minister Katta Subramanya Naidu entered into a conspiracy to defraud KSIIDC and waived the dues from the cement firm.

"This was done with an intention to acquire the company later. The acquisition was completed in 2009, a year after Yeddyurqappa became chief minister," Kumaraswamy said.

He also claimed that Yeddyurappa had favoured his sons by "illegally allotting 1,400 acres for lime stone quarrying for the cement plant".

The allegation comes close on the heels of a statement by Chief Justice J S Khehar who called Karnataka the number one state in corruption. Following this, The JD(S) had demanded Yeddyurappa's immediate resignation.

However, Yeddyurappa kept mum on the issue and refused to comment on the Chief Justice's statement, while state BJP president Eshwarappa termed it as a matter of 'personal opinion.'

Kumaraswamy declined to name the "big fishes of BJP high command" involved and said "if the central finance department does not initiate a probe, we will file a public interest petition in a court to bring out the truth".

In Bangalore, Yeddyurappa dismissed Kumaraswamy's charges as "totally baseless".

"All details will be made public in a day or two," he said.

Yeddyurappa said a defamation case against Kumaraswamy would also be filed.

The allegations of graft come two days ahead of BJP's national campaign against corruption.

With IANS inputs