Bengaluru: Dismissing charges that he was seeking to corner the Chief Minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy by demanding a SIT probe into the audio clip over BJP’s alleged toppling game, senior Congress leader Siddaramiah on Sunday said he pitched for it as it would attract Prevention of Corruption Act. Referring to the alleged Rs 50 crore bribe offer in the audio to MLAs of ruling combine, he said a judicial commission would not be adequate to investigate into the charge because it was a fact-finding body.
The former CM was responding to allegations by the BJP MLA from Shivamogga K S Eshwarappa that Siddaramaiah wanted to ‘fix’ Kumaraswamy by demanding the SIT probe into the audio clip. “I have only recommended the formation of SIT.. I only expressed my views that it should be constituted because it attracts Prevention of Corruption Act,” Siddaramaiah told reporters at Vijayapura on the sidelines of a function.
Haven’t you heard (in the audio recording) that Rs50 crore has been given to the Speaker? So, which panel should be formed?… it should be given to SIT.. What is wrong in that? Siddaramaiah asked. Meanwhile, addressing reporters in Hubballi, Eshwarappa claimed Siddaramaiah was pressuring Kumaraswamy to form the SIT though the government has not given him any ‘power of attorney.’
“Who has given him (Siddaramaiah) power to announce the formation of SIT? He is an MLA like me.. Government has not given him any power of attorney. He unilaterally made the announcement this government will form the SIT. The question is instead of getting Yeddyurappa probed, he wants to trap Kumaraswamy,” Eshwarappa alleged.
Ahead of the budget presentation on February 8, Kumaraswamy had released the audio recording containing purported conversation between, BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa, JD(S) MLA Naganagouda, BJP MLAs Shivanagouda Nayak and Preetam Gowda about their alleged bid to destabilise the eight-month old coalition government.