Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Feb 21: The chief minister Siddaramaih's expensive watch issue reached a different level on Saturday February 20, when the BJP state President Pralhad Joshi wrote to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking a probe into it.

In a letter to ED director Karnal Singh, Joshi has stated that Siddaramaiah has been making contradictory statements on his watch. Joshi has asked the ED to unearth ‘mystery’ surrounding Swiss-made Hublot watch. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy who first revealed about this expensive watch has claimed that the watch is worth Rs 70 lac.

The copy of the letter was released to the press. 'There is a shadow of suspicion around the imported watch adorning the wrist of the chief minister. The enforcement directorate needs to unveil the truth,' a part of the letter reads.

The BJP president wants the ED to probe whether the import duty was paid for the watch, the original owner of the watch, whether there had been any violation of foreign exchange regulations and whether the possession of the watch had been declared before the tax authorities.