Advertisement
Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that efforts were on to close the case. “Let them do it.” On the statement of the woman’s parents against him before the Special Investigation Team probing the case, Shivakumar said they had complained against him, after which she also issued a statement to the media. “Let the investigation happen,” he said. To a question on whether he wants the woman to come out and give her statement to the SIT after the developments on Saturday, he merely said he did not wish to speak on it now and wants to focus on coming bypolls in the state, as he also ruled out filing any defamation case.
The scandal had taken a new twist on Saturday with the woman’s family blaming Shivakumar and accusing him of playing “dirty politics” by using their daughter. After appearing before the SIT, her father and brother had said that Shivakumar would be responsible if anything happens to their family and urged him to send their daughter, who is at an undisclosed location, back to them. Minutes after the family’s statement, Jarkiholi too had slammed the state Congress chief, stating that “There isn’t any politician who is worse than Shivakumar” and had announced a political and legal battle against him. Jarkiholi had even used a Kannada expletive against Shivakumar multiple times, which triggered a protest by Congress workers, following which he had expressed regret.
On Sunday, as Shivakumar landed in Belagavi, Jarkiholi”s home district to take part in Belgaum Lok Sabha bypoll related activities, he received a rousing welcome from Congress workers, while supporters of the former Minister and Gokak BJP MLA waved black flags and shouted “DKS go back”, Some even tried to block his convoy, but were stopped by police.
Related Articles
Advertisement
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, reacting to the developments, said the SIT would examine videos, audios, and the CD in a scientific manner by following due procedures and bring out the truth. On the woman’s statement seeking help to record a statement before a judge, he said she was given five notices assuring security and it has been provided to her parents, as requested.