Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Aug 4: A defamation suit to the tune of Rs 204 crore was filed by former minister D K Shivakumar against BJP MLA of Vijayapura constituency Basangouda Patil Yatnal.

The former minister said that he has approached the court as Yatnal made baseless and false allegation against him. Shivakumar has filed the suit in Kanakapura Senior Civil Judge and JMFC court.

Yatnal has been issued a summons by the judge. The hearing of the defamation case will commence on September 18.

D K Shivakumar was accused by Yatnal of trying to influence the Central BJP leaders and the central BJP ministers to relieve him from cases against him that were slapped by the Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate departments.

Yatnal further accused Shivakumar of promising the BJP leaders to stay clear from the formation of the BJP government in Karnataka and not to cause any hurdle in the process.

Shivakumar has stated in his defamation suit that "The statement given by Yatnal was passed with the intention of maligning and tarnishing my image in the eyes of the public. This will be a big blot on my loyalty, sincerity, integrity and stature within the party and in front of the public in general,"

"The cases which are being investigated by the IT and ED departments are at various stages of progress. These kind of false and baseless statements of Yatnal are misleading for the investigating agencies. In addition, the voters of my constituency of Kanakapura will also feel suspicious about me and also the people of the state in general," said D K Shivakumar.

D K Shivakumar further said, "This statement gives an impression that for the purpose of my personal gains, I am sacrificing the trust of the people and the leaders of my party kept in me. I have played a stellar role in forming the coalition government of Congress and JD(S) in the state. The statement given by Yatnal stresses that I am responsible for the collapse of the coalition government. This has caused immense damage to my stature, image and loyalty towards my party Congress,"

"When I was the minister for water resources, I had gone several times to New Delhi on official visits. The meetings and visits between June 12 and 19 were scheduled in order to discuss about the conservation of water and drinking water projects of the state. The issues of water sharing of Mahadayi and Mekedatu were also discussed during this time. I had to this for the public of Karnataka being a minister. But these very visits are put in a bad perspective by Yatnal so as to malign my image in the eyes of the voters, leaders of my party and the central leadership of Congress, which has caused severe mental agony and distress to me." said D K Shivakumar in his petition filed at the court.