From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 6: Leader of Opposition and BJP leader R Ashoka has demanded a CBI probe into the alleged excise scam and also asked ED to step in as it is a financial scam.

Addressing a news conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, he also demanded Excise Minister R B Thimmapur’s resignation as well as that of Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar over the suicide of a second division clerk Rudranna in Belagavi leaving a suicide note blaming the minister’s staff.

The senior BJP leader alleged that minister Thimmapur is collecting Rs 18 crore every week, which amounts to Rs 900 crore in a year. “The minister is exceeding the Hafta collection by rowdies in Bengaluru in the past,” he said pointing out that the sordid details of the money collection by the minister have been given by the Bar Owners Association.

Ashoka claimed that the Association has given details of money collected by an officer in the Chief Minister’s office, personal assistant and private secretary. “When BJP was in power, the Congress was pasting posters on the alleged 40% commission without providing any evidence. If they are pasting posters on the corruption by Congress, I am ready to join,” he said.

Referring to the alleged suicide by a second division clerk Rudranna, the BJP leader said the deceased had sent a message on his WhatsApp regarding the collection of Rs 2 lac bribe and alleged that Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s staff were involved. He demanded that both Thimmapur and Hebbalkar must resign forthwith if the Congress government has any sense of shame.