Bangalore: No New Assets Found in Raids, Claims Eshwarappa
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Dec 25: Putting a brave face on the day-long raids by the Lokayukta police in seven different buildings in Bangalore and Shimoga, including residences and offices and offices of two private stamp vendors on Monday in connection with a criminal case filed against him over amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister and State BJP President K S Eshwarappa has claimed that he had ''actually” declared all the assets before the appropriate authorities.
''The Lokayukta raids have really helped me to publicly prove that I have not amassed assets disproportionate to the sources of income as alleged in the complaint (filed before the Lokayukta police over which a First Information Report has been registered),” Eshwarappa claimed on Tuesday.
The State BJP Chief reiterated his stand that he would come clean on the entire issue and prove that the complaint was ''totally baseless and politically motivated.”
''The Lokayukta raids have helped me in proving to my supporters about my innocence and removing the confusion in the minds of the BJP workers,” Eshwarappa said.
“I am very relieved and satisfied that I have not affected the image of the party or the government,” he said.
Quoting newspaper reports, Eshwarappa said the Lokayukta police have virtually admitted after the raids that they have not found any documents or properties other than those declared by me.
“The cash and gold that were found during the raid were all part of the declared assets.,” he said adding: ''The 37 kg silver which is in my possession comprises the articles gifted to me by various associations at different programmes.”
The simultaneous raids on various places that were conducted from 7 am to 11 am were like digging a huge mountain to catch a small rat as they did not yield anything, he remarked.
The State BJP President declared that he would expose those behind the episode.
“I will not keep quiet. I will take steps to ensure that the injustice that is done to me through a private complaint should not be done to others,” he asserted.
However, he declined to name those behind the entire episode and merely said that he would comment on the issue after two days.
Referring to the demand for his resignation made by Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, KPCC President Dr G Parameshwara and V S Ugrappa, he said: “I would like to ask them if they really want me to quit even after the raids did not yield any results.”