From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Chitradurga/Mysuru, Jan 7: The long-delayed expansion of the Basavaraj Bommai cabinet, which is eagerly awaited by several ministerial hopefuls and aspirants in ruling BJP, is expected to take place soon, indicated Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at Chitradurga on Saturday.
Speaking to media persons at the Chitradurga helipad, Bommai said he has held extensive discussions with the party high command.
“According to information available to me, a meeting is likely to be held soon and a decision will be taken shortly,” he said.
The chief minister parried questions on who will be joining the Cabinet and said it will be decided by party high command.
“We have conveyed all the necessary political inputs including regional, social and community-wise representation,’’ he said adding: ``I expect it (cabinet expansion) to happen soon.”
Probe into Santro Ravi
Later, he participated in the National Executive meeting of the Scheduled Caste Morcha of BJP at the Hotel Lalith Mahal in Mysuru, and said a comprehensive probe is underway into the irregularities involving Santro Ravi. Truth will come out after the probe, he said.
The chief minister made it clear that there was no question of saving or protecting anybody involved in the transfer scam allegedly carried out by Santro Ravi.
“There is no need to worry or concerned about the various video or audio shots and photos being circulated in social media. It is possible to manipulate everything for those well-versed in technology,” he said police will conduct a thorough probe and find out the truth.
Bommai said police probe has found that Santro Ravi was carrying out his dealings during the last 20 years and not a single complaint has been registered until now. So the police have taken the matter seriously and probing from all angles.
He said there is no need to worry over the audio or video recordings being released by JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Santro Ravi’s meetings or talks with different politicians. “I too have met so many people over the years without knowing their background. So merely on the basis of meeting or talking with anybody in the past, one cannot claim that the person who talked is guilty or has something to hide,’’ he said.
Asked about the seizure of Rs 10 lacs near the Vidhana Soudha gate, he said why no case was registered when Rs 22 lacs was seized in the office of Puttarangarasetty in Vidhana Soudha in 2019. The case was referred to Anti-Corruption Bureau and hushed up. Even an interrogation of Puttaranga Setty took place, he said pointing out that Congress party has no right to speak about this issue now.