Reddy keeps bribery bomb ticking in K’taka

BANGALORE: Suspended BJP MLC in Karnataka, Janardhana Reddy, on Monday said he will release on Wednesday video evidence in the Rs 150-crore bribery allegations levelled by him against chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.

Earlier in the day, Bellary JMFC magistrate U Chadrashekar directed issue of summons to the chief minister and ministers MP Prakash and C Chennigappa for personal appearance on September 7 in the defamation case filed by Mr Reddy in connection with the bribery charges.

Mr Reddy, who attended the Bellary court when his defamation suit came up for hearing, disclosed to reporters after the orders that he would be releasing the evidence termed as the ‘mining bribery bomb’ on Wednesday. He, however, kept close to his chest further details, including whether the revelations will be made in his home town of Bellary or in the state capital of Bangalore.

“I can’t predict the outcome or the fate of the JD(S)-BJP coalition regime (following the release of the evidence),” he said, adding, “It is left to the people to decide.”

Mr Reddy, who had publicly alleged that the chief minister and ministers Prakash and Chennigappa were involved in collecting of Rs 150 crore bribe from iron ore mine owners about one-and-a-half months ago, following the transfer of Bellary SP Pankaj Kumar Thakur, has so far avoided divulging details of the video documentary evidence. The MLC had even repeated the allegation on the floor of the state legislative council.

However, according to sources close to him, the video recording includes ‘damaging’ claims made by forest minister Chennigappa on the bribery scandal. The minister has reportedly spoken freely about the alleged payments to Mr Kumaraswamy and other members of his family, the sources said, adding that one of the chief minister’s brothers has also been “captured” in video.

The chief minister, however, has been contending that he is not worried about the bribery charges and was fully confident of handling the situation politically and legally. “I know this bomb will fizzle out like all other wild and baseless allegations hurled against my family. My government is committed to implement the developmental programmes,” he said.

Mr Reddy has to present himself before a Bangalore court on September 4 in connection with separate defamation suits filed by the chief minister and home and law minister MP Prakash over the bribery charges levelled against them.
The BJP, which has already suspended Mr Reddy from the party, after he refused to yield to pressures to retract his charges, is also anxiously waiting to assess the possible fallout of the revelations before deciding on the next course of action.

Given the open support extended by some of the state BJP leaders and Mr Reddy’s close rapport with Sushma Swaraj and other national leaders, the party is treading cautiously on the issue and may expel the rebel in a bid to distance itself from the mess if the revelations are considered not serious enough, according to informed party sources.