From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 26: The expensive diamond studded imported wrist watch, Hublot, gifted to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and is the centre of a huge controversy over the last few days, continues to make news and hit media headlines even as the chief minister chose to disclose the name of the donor.
As against the allegations levelled by former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy claiming that the foreign watch was worth at least Rs 70 lakh as per his inquiries, the chief minister contended that it was a second hand watch that was gifted to him by his Kuwait-based friend Dr Gopal Pillai Girish Chandra and was worth Rs 15 lakh. Kumarawamy has now disclosed that a person had called him over phone to say that it resembled a custom-made watch stolen from the Bengaluru residence of his (the caller’s) Kuwait-returned friend.
The JD(S) leader did not buy the explanation offered by Siddaramaiah and demanded an investigation, preferably by Central Bureau of Investigation, be held to know the truth.
Incidentally, the Chief Minister, who is in Delhi, sharply reacted to Kumaraswamy’s charge and termed it "baseless allegation" and "cheap politics."
Siddaramaiah said he had disclosed the origin of the watch clear and announced his plans to declare it before the Lokayukta.
"I also have an affidavit from the doctor friend who gifted me the watch," Siddaramaiah said.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday, Kumaraswamy claimed a caller had told him that his friend Dr Sudhakar Shetty had filed a complaint on May 7, 2015, with the Cubbon Park police about four expensive watches being stolen from his house.
Kumaraswamy also claimed that Dr Sudhakar Shetty, who initially wanted to meet him, had now changed his mind.
Meanwhile, Dr Shetty told a private Kannada TV channel and the police that the watch in possession of the chief minister was not the one stolen from his house.
Dr Shetty also flatly denied Kumaraswamy’s allegations that he was under pressure to suppress the facts.
A senior officer in the Cubbon Park police station investigating the case also confirmed that even the make and brand of the stolen watch was different from the one in possession of the chief minister.
The driver of Dr Shetty, who questioned by the police, has also said it is not the same watch.
Kumaraswamy had kicked-up political dust in the run-up to the by-polls to the Assembly by alleging that Siddaramaiah was in possession of an expensive, imported watch which was not declared.
The Principal Opposition BJP had even filed a complaint before the Enforcement Directorate seeking investigation to find out who gifted the expensive watch and if all norms were followed.