Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jun 16 : Dr Girish Chandra Verma, who reportedly gifted the Hublot wrist watch costing several lacs of rupees to chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah, was grilled by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday June 15. After the fact that the CM was wearing a costly watch that was not bought by him became public, a hue and cry had been raised in the state over its origin after former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, pursued the matter aggressively.
The ACB summoned Dr Verma to the office of the ACB in Khanija Bhavan on Race Course Road here. Officials posed some questions to Verma and obtained his response. Verma was in the office for about two hours, during which period he said he had gifted the controversial wrist watch to Siddaramaiah. Sources said that he also provided bills towards purchase of the watch.
Verma, who attended the questioning session in pursuance to notice served online, reportedly told the officials said that he knows Siddaramiaah since the last 15 years and that both are close to each other. He said because of this affectionate relationship, the watch in question was gifted, and not for any favour in return. He pointed out that he does not have any kind of business dealings in Karnataka and therefore, he had no need to give the wrist watch in return for any favour.