From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 4: JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday threw a challenge to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to order a high-level probe into the alleged links between notorious rowdy-sheeter ‘’Santro Ravi’’ and some influential ministers in his own cabinet and also the alleged multi-crore transactions behind industrialist Pradeep, who committed suicide note accusing BJP senior leader Aravinda Lmbavali.
"If the chief minister has the guts let him order a high-level probe and get the scandals investigated,’’ the former chief minister said addressing a news conference at the party office on Wednesday.
Kumaraswamy alleged that the 17 Congress and JD(S) MLAs who went to Mumbai and enjoyed the five-star comforts before pulling down his coalition government and dared the chief minister to investigate as to who had funded the entire sojourn and footed the bill.
Kumaraswamy claimed that Gopi, who is among the five persons named in the FIR in the suicide case of industrialist Pradeeep and had blamed Limbavali, was the middleman to mobilise Rs 50 to 60 crore and alleged that the bribe amount was collected from builders. All these details must be investigated besides the apartment where the murky deals were arranged and who was the ultimate beneficiary, the JD(S) leader said and challenged Bommai to arrest the BJP former minister.
The chief minister exhibits his bravado in front of his party workers and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and claimed that rowdy-sheeter Santro Ravi has close ties and business deals with some prominent cabinet ministers.
Terming BJP as a ‘’dongi’’ or fraudulent party, Kumaraswamy dared Bommai to
investigate the source of the funds for the 17 Congress-JD)S) MLAs, who had toppled the Congress-JD(S) coalition government headed by him and said how the chief minister claims that his party respects all parties.
Kumaraswamy challenged Bommai to come out with the truth behind Santro Ravi and BJP ministers as well as the person responsible for industrialist Pradeep ending his life by committing suicide and promised to disclose all details after the end of Pancharatna Yatra in Bidar and Kalaburgi districts if the chief minister failed to speak.
The JD(S) said the rowdy-sheeter Santro Ravi has five aliases and has criminal cases against him since 1995, including Mysuru and Bengaluru.
"The chief minister and Home Minister must disclose the name of the minister, who asked that a room in the Kumarakrupa Guest House was allotted to Santro Ravi last month,’’ he said and alleged that the rowdy-sheeter was conducting his dealings from Kumarakrupa and issues orders to senior police officers.
Kumaraswamy said the second phase of the Pancharatna Yatra will commence from Bidar on Thursday will conclude in Kalaburgi on January 13. After a three-day break, it will resume on January 17 from Indi and cover Raichuru, Koppal and other districts.
State JD(S) Chief C M Ibrahim and other party leaders were present.