Bangalore: Lokayukta Begins Probe into Horse-trading

Bangalore, Nov 3, (DHNS) : Karnataka Lokayukta, the anti-corruption ombudsman, has begun a preliminary probe into a complaint alleging horse-trading by ruling BJP to lure opposition MLAs. 

"Ramesh Gowda (JDS), has filed a complaint before the Lokayukta alleging that some of the BJP MLAs have been offering bribe to their opposition counterparts to defect. We have taken up preliminary investigations into it," Lokayukta Santosh Hegde told PTI here.

Gowda has also provided a CD in support of his complaint, Hegde said. "If there is any prima facie case, we will commence a full-fledged probe," he said.

During the political crisis triggered by rebel BJP MLAs last month, the JDS had released a CD containing purported conversation between its Gubbi MLA, Srinivas, and BJP MLA Suresh Gowda.

JDS had charged that Suresh Gowda offered money to Srinivas to resign his assembly membership ahead of the second floor test faced by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on October 22, which he won. Srinivas, however, turned down the offer, it had said.