Found at Eshwarappa's House: Rs 10.9 Lac Cash, 1.9 kg Gold, 37 kg Silver
Bangalore/Shimoga, Dec 24 (PTI): In a huge embarrassment to the ruling BJP, Lokayukta sleuths seized Rs 10.9 lakh in cash, 1.9 kg of gold and 37 kg of silver during searches at the residences of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa and educational and business establishments allegedly belonging to him today.
In all, searches were conducted at eight places, including his Bangalore and Shimoga residence, a cement dealership unit, two educational institutions and the house of his close aid N Somasekhar in Shimoga.
A Shimoga court on December 15 ordered an investigation into a complaint filed by advocate B Vinod, who alleged that Eshwarappa, also state BJP chief who holds the Revenue and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj portfolios in the Jagadish Shettar Government, his son Kanthesh K E and daughter-in-law Shalini had amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income.
Lokayukta police had subsequently registered a case and taken up investigation.
"Searches are continuing", Lokayukta sources said. In his reaction, Eshwarappa said he is "not scared" by the searches. "Truth will prevail after investigations. It's all political vendetta. I will fight it out in the court".
Meanwhile, JD(S) Shimoga district unit held a protest in the city and demanded action against Eshwarappa. The party urged him to resign forthwith on moral grounds and allow free and fair investigation.
After the case was filed, he had last week dismissed suggestions for his resignation from the Cabinet, noting that the probe was ordered based on a private complaint and it was not fair on the part of opposition parties to demand his scalp.
Earlier Report
Bangalore: Lokayukta Swoops Down on Eshwarappa, Raids Seven Properties
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, Dec 24: In an early morning operation, the Lokayukta on Monday December 24 swooped down on properties belonging to deputy chief minister and state BJP president K S Eshwarappa.
The Lokayukta reportedly raided seven properties belonging to Eshwarappa, including his house at Malleshwar Nagar in Shimoga.
The raid by police attached to the Lokayukta (ombudsman) followed a directive by the Lokayukta court in Shimoga to probe the charge that Eshwarappa had amassed properties through corrupt means.
A police spokesperson told reporters in Bangalore that raids were being conducted to go through documents related to properties owned by Eshwarappa and members of his family.
Police have registered an FIR (First Information Report, marking the formal launch of the police probe) against Eshwarappa, his son K E Kantesh and daughter-in-law Shalini on a complaint by Shimoga advocate B Vinod.
The complaint alleged that Eshwarappa had acquired huge properties in Shimoga through corrupt means.
The BJP chief, who is touring the north Karnataka town of Koppal, about 400 km from here, told reporters there that he welcomed the raids as "the truth would come out".
Fearing arrest following the FIR, Eshwarappa and his family members have sought anticipatory bail from a Shimoga court. Hearing of the plea would resume Dec 27.
Eshwarappa has rejected Congress demands for resignation as deputy chief minister to ensure a "fair" probe.
He is the latest BJP leader in Karnataka to face corruption cases.
Around 20 of the party's 118 members, including several ministers in the 225-member assembly, are fighting corruption cases in Bangalore courts.
Reports claimed that a team of as many as 70 Lokayukta sleuths led by SP Lingareddy is carrying out the raids.
With IANS Inputs