Siddaramaiah gave Rs 2 crore to some MLAs to win RS polls, alleges activist

BENGALURU: A city-based activist has filed a complaint against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, MLA B.R. Patil and Rajya Sabha member K.C. Ramamurthy accusing them of bribing MLAs of Rs 2 crore to get elected to the Rajya Sabha.
The complainant, T.J. Abraham, approached the Vidhan Soudha police station on Wednesday and filed the complaint.

In the complaint, he has stated that the accused allegedly bribed/induced some MLAs to vote for candidates for the legislative council and the Rajya Sabha. The polling was held on June 11, 2016.

The complaint read, “B.R. Patil who had already committed to extend support to JD(S) candidate A.M. Farook along with S. Thippeswamy, Sambhaji Lakshman Patil, Ashok Kheny, Guru Patil Shirval, Satish K. Sail, Mankala Subba Vaidya, Aravind Chandrakant Patil, B. Nagendra and P. Rajeev and had also signed the nomination papers for Farook on May 27. Yet, the Chief Minister along with his cabinet colleague allegedly indulged in inducing the MLAs/voters with Rs 2 crore each as inducements and bribes in the form of rewards as gratification for them to exercise their electoral right in favour of Congress Party candidate K.C. Ramamurthy. The voters were assured that other rewards too in the form of ‘development work’ would be granted on a priority basis to their constituencies. After allegedly receiving Rs 2 crore each, all the 10 MLAs led by B.R. Patil openly changed their stand and pledged support to the Congress, claiming that the CM along with his cabinet colleague has promised to expedite development works in their constituencies."

Vidana Soudha police have registered a case under IPC 171 (B) (bribery) and (C) (undue influence) at elections and under the Representation of the People’s Act 123 (Corrupt practices).