A Karnataka real estate businessman, claiming to be social media vice president of the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS), has lodged a formal police complaint against Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy alleging a bid to extort Rs 50 crore as election fund and threats to life.
Vijay Tata has also named MLC Ramesh Gowda in his complaint of extortion bid filed at the Amruthahalli Police Station in Bengaluru, police said.
The JDS refuted Tata’s allegations and clarified that he did not hold any position in the party.
In his complaint, Tata claimed that during a phone conversation with Kumaraswamy the former Chief Minister of Karnataka demanded the substantial sum to cover election expenses for the forthcoming Channapatna by-election.
He claimed Kumaraswamy told him “this time, you have to pay Rs 50 crores for election expenses, which is necessary for us to win”.
Tata claimed when he expressed his inability to meet the financial demand, Kumaraswamy threatened him.
Tata reported that Kumaraswamy warned, “If you don’t prepare Rs 50 crores, I don’t know what I will do. It will be difficult for you to run a real estate business in Bengaluru.”
Furthermore, Ramesh Gowda is accused of pressuring Tata for additional funds, claiming that he required an extra Rs 5 crores to build a temple and a school, with implications that non-compliance would lead to “problems.”
Meanwhile, H S Chandan, JDS social media cell president, refuted the allegations made by Tata against Kumaraswamy and MLC Gowda, labelling them as “false” and rooted in a quest for publicity.
In an official letter, Chandan clarified that Vijay Tata holds no position within the JDS social media cell and announced the party’s intention to file a formal complaint against him.
