Daijiworld media Network - Hassan
Hassan, Sep 17: Vrikshamate Salumarada Thimmakka has clarified that she has nothing to do with Gagan Kumar, who is a co-accused with Chaitra Kundapura in cheating a businessman of crores of rupees and said that he would get a BJP ticket to contest the state assembly elections held earlier this year.
She was reacting to media reports in a news channel alleging her connections with the accused Gagan.
Speaking at her residence in Ballur village of Belur taluk of Hassan district, she said, "There is some news about us in the media. We are somehow making a living by planting tree saplings. We live in fear of the government. We will never indulge in these kind of discussions and controversies. We don't know anything about all this."
Ballur Umesh, the adopted son of Salumarada Thimmakka, said, "It is true that we attended Gagan Kaduru's wedding.Thimmakka has millions of fans in the country. They come and take photos. We can't say no. Sometimes they come and call for marriage functions also. Similarly, we went to Gagan's wedding."
"Gagan is a member of Bharatiya Ayyappaswamy Sena Committee. I am working as its chairman. A reputed news channel reported that Gagan had misused Thimmakka's car. It has been circulated that it is possible that accused got Gagan Thimmakka's room in Vidhana Soudha. But, this has nothing to do with us. If they have done wrong, let them be punished. But, mentioning our name is wrong," he said.
Defamation suit
"The government will renovate Thimmakka's room. Who is Gagan to renew it? If Gagan has misused Thimmakka's car, give the relevant documents. We are only doing good work for the society and nothing that betrays it. We have not done wrong even in the days of trouble," Umesh added.
"Now the government is honouring Thimmakka by giving her a cabinet rank. The whole society respects us. Will we commit a mistake at this juncture? A defamation case will be filed against the anchor of the channel who has concocted a relationship between us and Gagan in a news telecast," he said.
"Some people who are envious of Thimmakka being given the cabinet status are working to tarnish our name," he alleged.
Ballur Umesh, said that he will meet chief minister Siddaramaiah and home minister Parameshwar soon and discuss about this matter.