Gali aide's vow to return cash, thief's vow to return jewels, says HD Kumaraswamy

Bidar: Indirectly hitting out at former BJP minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday remarked that “a thief cannot be absolved of the offences committed by him if he volunteers to return the stolen valuables” in a reference to the affidavit filed by the personal assistant of the mining baron before the court while seeking bail.

Mehfuz Ali Khan, personal assistant of Mr Reddy, in a sworn affidavit presented to a magistrate during the course of hearing of the bail plea of Mr Reddy, had made the offer to return the money to the owners of Ambidant Marketing Private Limited.

After a review meeting here, Mr Kumaraswamy initially refused to entertain any questions regarding the allegations levelled by Mr Reddy, who has now been granted bail in the case. When a reporter drew his intention to the charge levelled by Mr Reddy that he (Mr Kumaraswamy) had taken revenge on him by getting him arrested almost 12 years after he had accused Mr Kumarawamy of accepting a bribe of Rs 150 crore from mine owners for awarding mining licenses when the latter was the CM, he said, “I don't want to stoop to the level of Mr Reddy, who has accused me of practicing vindictive politics. His allegation is meaningless and I don't want to give it any importance.

But I want to draw the attention of the people to the affidavit filed in the court (with an undertaking to return the Rs 20 crore taken from a financial company that has duped hundreds of investors). It is akin to a thief presenting himself before police and asking for annulling the case registered against because he has volunteered to return the valuables he had stolen. Can we extend this rule to all offenders? It is this kind of system that exists today we have to fight against,” Mr Kumaraswamy replied.

On the action proposed to be taken against an IPS officer of the state cadre allegedly involved in this case, he said the law would take its course and no officer, whether big or small, would be spared.

Centre not responding to plea for aid: HDK

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has taken the Centre to task for not responding to the state’s demand for providing financial assistance for fighting the severe drought.

Speaking to the media here on Thursday after a review meeting, Mr Kumaraswamy revealed that the state had suffered crop losses to the tune of Rs 16,000 crore.

“Though we submitted a memorandum to the Centre, it has not responded so far,” he said.

Despite this, deputy commissioners of all districts have been directed to take necessary measures to ensure proper supply of drinking water and also fodder. When it was pointed out that though Bidar district has been reeling under drought for the last eight years, no attention had been paid to make use of the nearly 50 tmcft of water allocated to the district from the Godavari basin under the second Bachawat Award, Mr Kumaraswamy replied, “You have drawn my attention to an important issue. I will initiate steps immediately to make use of water.”