Bengaluru: This is the season of allegations in Karnataka with Assembly election just a year away. And former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has made a rather serious one -that the BJP is going to be funded for the Assembly elections of 2018 by its former minister and indeed one of the most infamous politicians of the State, Janardhan Reddy.
Former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, also State president of the Janata Dal (Secular), took on Reddy at a conference of its office bearers, current and former elected representatives, and supporters on Thursday.
"There is a fixed deal... That Reddy would give Rs 500 crore for the next election... and all cases against him would be weakened. That's why you are seeing properties that had been seized or attached from him are being given back," Kumaraswamy said.
Asked to elaborate, Kumaraswamy told News18 that he had some information gathered through "proper channels" that certain important people in the Central Government have told Reddy ‘they were ready to safeguard his interests’, "take care" of all his cases.
"What (Prime Minister) does Narendra Modi say at public forums? That he wants to curb corruption. But in other ways, for the elections in Karnataka, they are fixing several corporate companies or rich people (and not just Reddy) who are facing issues with Central government machinery or agencies, to favour them. They are demanding money. I don't know why they are collecting money like this because they already have a lot of money. Officially, in their accounts, they have Rs 3,000 crore. Even then, why do they want to safeguard the interest of people involved in illegal activities," Kumaraswamy asked.
Asked about recent amendments to laws regarding funding of political parties, he told News18 that loopholes are being created deliberate in all new Bills to facilitate illegal activities, even in Bills that are aimed at "changing the system."
His comments came precisely ten days after the Karnataka High Court set aside the Enforcement Directorate's orders to attach properties of Janardhan Reddy worth over Rs 800 crore.
In 2012, Reddy’s property, including his two companies and a helicopter, was seized during an investigation.
The High Court had set aside the attachment order citing the application of wrong laws during attachment-laws that were not in existence in 2007 at the time the crimes were committed.
Kumaraswamy said the judiciary, however, is not to blame as the courts take decisions based on the material placed before them-if the material is inadequate, that weakens a case.
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