In an attempt to tarnish the image of top leaders of BJP with the same brush that he has repeatedly used against chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Janata Dal (S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday accused them of benefiting from unlawful accounts of a cement manufacturing firm allegedly acquired by members of the first family in Karnataka. “I want the reaction of BJP leaders’ on this. From Bangalore to Hyderabad to Delhi to Nagpur, every
top BJP leader is involved in it,” he told reporters here, adding that he would request the Union finance ministry to institute an inquiry into the accounts as the company in question has not submitted its balance sheet for last two years.
According to Mr Kumaraswamy, Mr Yeddyurappa’s kin bought shares in a Kolkata-based firm, Indivar Kutir Private Limited in 2009 through which Ratna Cements (Yadwad) Ltd., was bought and the cement factory was given permission to carry out the mining of limestone, the raw material for the cement factory in 2009.
He said the entire process commenced in 2006 ended in 2009 with the grant of mining of limestone in an area of over 1417 acres of land in Belgaum district. “All the big fishes in BJP who have got several thousands in their accounts will be exposed if an inquiry is ordered,” he said and alleged that Mr Yeddyurappa was involved in a scam of `1500 crore by illegally waiving off interest due from the firm its liquidation.
An unfazed chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said that he would sue him for defamation.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru within hours of Mr Kumaraswamy releasing documents in New Delhi on illegal acquisition of a cement factory allegedly by members of his family, Mr Yeddyurappa said he would also release a chargesheet against Dal(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda and his kin in a tit-for-tat in Delhi shortly.