From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 4: In a startling revelation, former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has alleged that the police department had exposed the irregularities in the recruitment of police sub inspectors as a retaliation for the humiliation meted out to senior and upright police officer like Kamal Pant, the city police commissioner.

Addressing the media at Channapatna near Bengaluru on Wednesday, May 4 the JD(S) leader alleged that a key BJP leader had close links with the kingpin in the PSI scam and claimed that a BJP spokesman had levelled allegation against city police commissioner Kamal Nath in the murder of a youth Chandru in Bengaluu recently.

Kumaraswamy said Chandru was murdered due to a personal clash following an accident involving two-wheelers and the Police Commissioner had mentioned the facts. However, BJP leaders claimed that the murder took place because the youth Chandru could not speak Urdu and this was promptly stated by Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who had to subsequently retract his own statements after learning the details.

The ruling BJP leaders insisted that the murder took place because Chandru was unable to speak in Urdu as it was part of their game plan of political polarisation based on religious lines and this incident has direct links to the PSI scam, the JD(S) leader said.

Kumaraswamy charged that police officers loyal to IPS officer Kamal Pant, who is regarded as an honest, efficient and upright officer, were riled at the attempt by the ruling BJP leaders to tarnish the officer and they have exposed the details of the PSI scam in order to “teach a lesson” to the ruling party.

The former Chief Minister said it was not correct to claim that all the candidates got selected by paying bribes and mentioned that about 30% of the candidates may have paid money to get selected while 30-40% candidates have answered the examinations honestly. “I am upset that the honest and genuine candidates are suffering with the cancellation of the entire examination,” he said.

Kumaraswamy alleged that BJP leaders and even some ministers have conspired to check the rise of Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, the Higher Education Minister, by leaking information on the PSI scam.

He also charged that the Congress leaders were targeting Dr Narayan and trying to tarnish the latter’s image during the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “Do the Congress leaders have any evidence? They are simply levelling allegations based on information furnished by some ministers,” he added.