Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said he will write to the CBI to take up the probe on the recent alleged phone-tapping incidents, allegedly done at the behest of former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. This comes just days after the CM had already directed the Chief Secretary to inquire into the matter.
“All political leaders, including CLP leader Siddaramaiah, have sought a high-level probe into the scandal. So I have decided to order a CBI probe into it,” the CM told reporters outside his Dollars Colony residence.
Reacting to this development, Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy’s predecessor, welcomed the move in a tweet but questioned if there would be any “misuse” of the central probe agency.
He tweeted, “I welcome the decision of @BSYBJP to hand over the phone-tapping case to CBI. But, in the past, @BJP4India has used CBI as its puppet to unleash its venomous political vendetta. Hope @BJP4Karnataka leaders do not have similar intentions this time.”
He added, “Allegations of ‘Operation Kamala’ being done in Karnataka is as serious as allegations of Phone tapping. I urge @BSYBJP to order CBI investigation into alleged Operation Kamala also. I heard they acted on my advice in phone tapping case & I hope they act on this issue as well.”
The phone-tapping controversy came to light recently after an audio tape, in which new city Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao’s name purportedly figured, was leaked to the media, alleging that he and two other IPS officers were vying for the high-profile post.
Soon after this, former JD(S) state president and disqualified MLA from Hunsur, AH Vishwanath, accused HD Kumaraswamy of tapping phones of prominent political leaders when he was the CM.
Vishwanath, who was once Kumaraswamy’s trusted lieutenant, held a press conference in Bengaluru and said that Kumaraswamy had tapped the phones of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and also the incumbent CM BS Yediyurappa. Vishwanath accused Kumaraswamy of indulging in criminal activities as he did not trust his own party men andconfidantes.
However, Kumaraswamy speaking to reporters on Sunday once again denied any wrongdoing and said he will cooperate with the probe agencies.