Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa’s kin took bribe from contractors, says Congress; demands resignation, judicial probe

Family members of Karnataka Chief Minister YS Yeddyurappa took bribes worth crores from Benguluru-based contractors and Kolkata-based companies through hawala, the Congress alleged on Wednesday.

The main Opposition party in the state demanded the CM’s resignation and a judicial probe into the matter.

Alleging that Yeddyurappa’s grandson Shashidhar Maradi accepted money from 7 Kolkata-based companies, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that Yeddyurappa’s son Vijayendra Yeddyurappa was in the know of the bribe.

Addressing a press conference along with former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Surjewala said that names of not only Yeddyurappa’s son and grandson but also his in-laws have also emerged in corruption in the Rs 666.22 crore project for construction of apartments by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

“This is a clear case of fraud, corruption and money laundering by ‘Super CM’ and his aides. An FIR should be filed against all the accused,” said Siddaramaiah.

Alleging that that Rs 12 crore was taken by the BDA Commissioner as bribe from the contractor in the name of the Chief Minister and his son, Congress asked, “Why was an FIR for corruption under Prevention of Corruption Act, extortion and bribery by misuse of official position then not registered against the BDA commissioner and the contractor?”

Referring to various alleged WhatsApp conversations between Maradi and the contractor, the Congress alleged that the CM’s grandson and contractor referred to ‘V’ in their chat which means CM’s son was in the know of the corruption. “Does the reference in the alleged Whatsapp conversations of 06-08-2020 and 07-08-2020 between the contractor and CM’s grandson, Shashidhar Maradi refer to Vijayendra (CM’s Son) as ‘V’, referring to his intervention in favour of the contractor?” asked Surjewala.

According to the alleged conversation, a contractor transferred Rs 7.40 crore to the account of Shashidhar.

Alleging that Rs 5 crore was received from the contractor by Maradi through seven companies into his company, Belgravia Enterprises Limited, before being transferred to VSS Estates Pvt. Ltd of which Maradi is a director, Congress asked, “Is this not a clear cut case of money laundering and an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act?”

Saying that “proprietary and probity in public life demands a complete, thorough and independent investigation of the allegations of corruption against BS Yeddyurappa and his family members,” the Congress demanded “a time bound and independent probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge or by the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court” into the allegations.