Gold smuggling case: Ashoka claims bid to influence probe

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, on Tuesday said that rejecting reports about two ministers having links to the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao even before the investigation is completed is an attempt to influence the probe. The BJP leader was reacting to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's statement on Monday rejecting reports linking ministers with the gold smuggling case, calling them 'political gossip'.

"Investigating agency should say whether the involvement (of two ministers) is there or not. Even before the probe, if clean-chit is given, what value will the investigation agency have? Is a message being sent to the agency to give a clean-chit?" Ashok asked. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "There are reports about two ministers' involvement. People believe such things.

The CBI is also investigating the case, and the state government has also ordered a probe. Even before the investigation if a clean-chit is given, this shows how the Congress runs the administration." "...whether there is any wrongdoing or not, should be said by the investigating agency,'' he added.