Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)
Bengaluru, Apr 3: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has received one of worst embarrassments of his life. He did not care about the criticism on the formation of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and let it start its functioning. Obviously ACB wanted cases to function and it received its first complaint on Saturday, April 2. And the complaint was against the chief minister himself.
A Bengaluru based advocate S Nataraj Sharma sought a probe against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the Hublot watch gifted to him by his childhood friend, an NRI doctor.
Nataraj Sharma with his friend advocate N P Amrutesh went to Khanija Bhavan to lodge the complaint. It was said that ACB’s new office would be set up at Khanija Bhavan. As there was no activity or even trace of any office being set up, the duo went to the Malleswaram police station where the police refused to register the complaint. Then they went to state DG and IGP, Om Prakash's office. Om Prakash was not at the office at that time. Then they submitted the complaint at DG and IGP's office and got an acknowledgment.
The complaint has been forwarded to DySP Abdul Khader, who has been designated to receive complaints till the ACB office is set up. The DySP revealed that as per the rules, they have 15 days’ time to hold a preliminary enquiry on the complaint.
The complaint by Sharma demands an investigation to find out if the chief minister rendered some help to his childhood friend Dr Girish Chandra Varma in return for the expensive gift of Hublot watch worth Rs 70 lac. The complaint says it is not just enough to say that the watch is a state property now without establishing the intention of the gift.
“Till today, CM's best friend Dr Girish Chandra Varma has not come out in public with any statement. Dr Varma has also not furnished the original receipt of the watch he had purchased. The watch is under the custody of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. While handing over the watch to the Speaker, the CM has apparently handed over an affidavit and other documents. These documents will have to be verified,'' the complaint says.
The complainant also wants to know if proper customs duty was paid and regulations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) were observed.
Meanwhile a petition was submitted to Governor Vajubhai Vala by BJP legislators on Saturday demanding the closure of ACB. Prahlad Joshi, Jagadish Shettar and Eshwarappa were part of the delegation. The delegation has asked the governor to intervene and instruct the state government on the matter.
JD (S), on Monday April 4, will hold a rally in Bengaluru demanding the closure of ACB. Then they will submit a petition to the governor. JD(S) leader and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda will participate in the rally.