37 kg silver, 1.9 kg gold recovered from Karnataka BJP chief’s house

mangaloretoday.com /PTI

Bangalore, Dec 24: The Lokayukta police today raided the residence of Karnataka BJP state chief KS Eshwarappa and recovered 37 kilogram silver, 1.9 kilogram gold and Rs. 10,90,000.

Mr Eshwarappa is also the Deputy Chief Minister of the state.

 

The raid was conducted after the directive by the Lokayukta court in Shimoga, 280 km north of Bangalore, to probe the charge that Mr Eshwarappa had amassed properties through corrupt means.

A police spokesperson told reporters in Bangalore that raids were being conducted to go through documents related to properties owned by Eshwarappa and members of his family.

The police has registered an FIR (First Information Report, marking the formal launch of the police probe) against Mr Eshwarappa, his son K.E. Kantesh and daughter-in-law Shalini on a complaint by Shimoga advocate B Vinod.

The complaint alleged that Mr Eshwarappa had acquired huge properties in Shimoga through corrupt means.

The BJP chief, who is touring the north Karnataka town of Koppal, about 400 km from Bangalore, told reporters there that he welcomed the raids as "the truth would come out".

Fearing arrest following the FIR, Mr Eshwarappa and his family members have sought anticipatory bail from a Shimoga court. Hearing of the plea would resume on December 27.

Mr Eshwarappa has rejected the Congress demands for resignation as deputy chief minister to ensure a "fair" probe.

He is the latest BJP leader in Karnataka to face corruption cases.

Around 20 of the party’s 118 members, including several ministers in the 225-member assembly, are fighting corruption.