Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 11: It has to come to light that during the questioning of rowdy sheeters involved with the kidnap attempt of Vinay Bidre, personal assistant (PA) of leader of the opposition in legislative council K S Eshwarappa , the investigating officers have learnt that the kidnap plan was hatched in the residence of former Karnataka chief minister and current BJP state president, B S Yeddyurappa on Vivekananda Jayanti day. During the questioning, the accused, who have now been arrested, revealed that all the rowdy sheeters involved were summoned to the residence of Yeddyyrappa where they were given T-shirts bearing pictures of Vivekananda, and also they were made to hear speech about him.

"Santhosh, who is close to Yeddyurappa, and BJP Yuva Morcha leader, Rajendra Aras, had invited the rowdy sheeters to the residence of Yeddyurappa. We were not told who was to be abducted and why. When we sought monetary reward for the job, we were assured that we will get benefit by way of facilities in addition to removing our names from rowdy sheets list when BJP rises to power," said one of the arrested ruffians, Prashanth, in reply to questions posed to him by investigating officers.

B S Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa 

Officials said that they can not say now for sure whether Yeddyurappa had information about the crime plan which unfolded in his own residence. In affect, the kidnap episode is turning into a serious issue for various BJP leaders.

Prashanth reportedly said that under instructions from Santhosh, rowdy sheeters, Prashanth, Abhishek, and Indresh were summoned by Rajendra Aras to Yeddyurappa's residene. He said that the concerned asked them to come to Yeddyurappa's house to show that those who were entrusting work to them were powerful enough. "Although the sketch was prepared there, we were not told about the name of the person or that he was a personal assistant of another BJP leader. We were shown a photo, and asked to abduct him, and snatch away from him his cellphone, laptop, and tablet," Prashanth reportedly revealed.

The police, it is learnt, have accessed a video clip containing the scene of rowdy sheeters wearing T-shirts bearing pictures of Vivekananda, and seated inside the residence of Yeddyurappa. The video which the accused captured in their cellphone also has been with the police, which provides crucial evidence.

The officials are said to be in dark about the video, which was said to be in the possession of Vinay, for which the above kidnap attempt was made.