Bengaluru: The Opposition Congress, on Wednesday, demanded the resignation of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa over allegations of corruption involving his family members.
The Congress party levelled allegations of bribery and money laundering against BSY’s son, son-in-law, and grandson in connection with a housing project by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) after a sting operation carried out by a Kannada TV channel.
Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah wrote, “.@BSYBJP, sons & grandsons seems to have mastered money laundering techniques. This is the second time they have been found taking bribe through bank transactions.”
Claiming that there are WhatsApp messages that show “negotiations” by Yediyurappa’s son, B Y Vijayendra and his nephew Shashidar Maradi to “extort money from the contractor”, Siddaramaiah demanded a “thorough investigation” into the matter.
He further wrote, “It is reported that Super CM @BYVijayendra had demanded ?12 Cr to issue work order for a BDA work worth 666 Cr. It was mediated by an IAS officer & the owner of a hotel. The contractor is said to have given the amount to hotel owner.
It is reported that Super CM @BYVijayendra had demanded ?12 Cr to issue work order for a BDA work worth 666 Cr. It was mediated by an IAS officer & the owner of a hotel. The contractor is said to have given the amount to hotel owner.
7/11#BSY_Must_Resign#VijayendraServiceTax
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 23, 2020
“Super CM @BYVijayendra seems to have demanded an addl ?17 Cr from the contractor to issue work order saying that previously paid amount has not reached him. Contractor transfers ?7.4 Cr directly to the account of Shashidar Maradi.
“The balance amount was asked to be paid to @BSYBJP ‘s son-in-law’s Madura Estate in Hubli. Later, this black money was routed through 7 shell companies registered in different states and finally back to VSS works LLP.”
Calling this a “clear case of fraud, corruption and money laundering” by Vijayendra and his aides, Siddaramaiah demanded that an FIR be filed against all the accused and also demanded that the Chief Minister resign with immediate effect in order to “ensure fairness in the investigation”.
Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Surjewala also chimed in tweeting, “The stunning allegations of corruption against son, grandson & son-in-law of CM BS Yeddyurappa have shocked the conscience of entire State.
The chronology of alleged collusion & bribery in ?666.22 Crore worth project for construction of apartments by BDA is itself scandalous.”
The stunning allegations of corruption against son, grandson & son-in-law of CM BS Yeddyurappa have shocked the conscience of entire State.
The chronology of alleged collusion & bribery in ?666.22 Crore worth project for construction of apartments by BDA is itself scandalous pic.twitter.com/NnPSOM8YSk
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 23, 2020
The BJP has, however, denied all these allegations.
Speaking to NDTV, BJP MLC C N Ravikumar said that ther allegations are baseless and that B Y Vijayendra is being “targeted because he is the son of the Chief Minister”.
“How else will the Congress General Secretary get publicity for his press meeting? So, he demands the Chief Minister’s resignation. We in the BJP are not giving it any importance. It is the work of the Congress to malign the BJP’s name, that of the Chief Minister and his son,” NDTV quoted Ravikumar as saying.
