HDK booked for extortion

Union Minister demanded Rs 50 cr for polls, claims realtor

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: A case was registered against Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday over extortion and criminal intimidation after a complaint by a realtor, cops said. Amruthahalli police said JD(S) leader Ramesh Gowda has also been named as an accused. Sections 3(5), 308(2), 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023 have been invoked. The cause of the cases was a complaint by one Vijay Tata at the High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru on Tuesday. He claimed to be the JD(S) social media vice president but had distanced himself from the party to focus on his real estate business. Tata said that on August 24, Ramesh Gowda had come to his house to chat with him. Later on, he dialled Kumaraswamy’s number, spoke with him and then handed the phone to Tata, he said. Thereafter, Kumaraswamy allegedly told Tata that they had decided to field his son Nikhil from Channapatna and therefore the party required Rs 50 crore. He added that Tata should pay up Rs 50 crore for the purpose.

Upon conveying to Kumaraswamy that he could not arrange such a large sum, Tata was threatened. Tata said much of his money was tied up in projects and he couldn’t arrange for Rs 50 crore. Unsatisfied with the answer, Kumaraswamy allegedly threatened Tata, telling him he would find it difficult to continue with his projects in Bengaluru upon failure to produce the required funds. “I told Kumaraswamy that Rs 50 crore was difficult since I had to complete my projects. I told him it was impossible. This made him quite angry. He said you should arrange for Rs 50 crore by any means or you’ll find it difficult to survive in the city,” Tata told mediapersons. Kumaraswamy dismissed the charge, going so far as to liken Tata to a stray dog. “Is this a subject to be discussed? Should I reply to this? Is it prudent to reply to stray dogs and other beasts?” he asked. “Who is he and why should I discuss him? He is in no way related to me,” he added.

HD Kumaraswamy vacated the Channapatna Assembly seat after winning the Mandya Lok Sabha segment in June. He also went on to land the Union Ministry for Heavy Industries, Steel and Public Enterprises. JD(S) has laid claim to the right to contest from Channapatna, which is one of three seats that will be witnessing a byelection in Karnataka. Meanwhile, in a separate case, an FIR was registered against BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for his statement alleging that a "great leader had set aside Rs 1,000 crore" to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He also took a veiled dig at BJP chief BY Vijayendra.