BELAGAVI: The sex CD case won’t be a factor in the April 17 bypolls, chief minister BS Yediyurappa said on Tuesday in his first comments on the controversy. He added that he would ask MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi to join BJP’s campaign.
“The law minister, Basavaraj Bommai, is getting the case inquired impartially. It is known that unnecessary allegations have been made against Ramesh with malicious intent. Let’s wait and see,” he told reporters in Belagavi. “We are ready to face everything within the framework of the law. The case will not have any impact on the bypolls. I will ask Ramesh to take part in campaigning.”
In Kalaburagi, state Congress president DK Shivakumar alleged that the government was backing Ramesh. “I have nothing to say on this. We all have seen the video on TV. I don’t know why the government is still supporting him,” he said. Asked whether the SIT probing the case had issued any notice to him, Shivakumar said: “Why will it? If it does, whatever I know, I will answer. I will cooperate.” On Monday, the family of the woman linked to the case alleged that she was acting on the directions of Shivakumar, who denied any connection.
Meanwhile, senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal expressed doubts about the SIT probe and demanded a CBI inquiry. “Yediyurappa’s son controls the police. So, I don’t think the SIT will be allowed to take up a free and fair investigation,” he alleged. He did not provide any material to support the claim.
Yatnal said blackmail politics involving CDs would end in Karnataka if the investigation was handed over to the CBI.