According to the FIR accessed by South First, Vijay alleged that he was asked to arrange ₹50 crore for the Channapatna by-election. He further alleged that Kumaraswamy threatened consequences if the demand was not met.
Published Oct 04, 2024 | 1:24 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 04, 2024 | 1:32 PM
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. (X)
Bengaluru city police on Thursday, 3 October, booked Union Minister for Steels and Heavy Industries and JD (S) chief HD Kumaraswamy under the charges of section 3(5)- establishes joint criminal liability, 308(2) – extortion, 351(2) – criminal intimidation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, based on the complaint of the JD(S) social media wing vice-president and real estate businessman Vijay Tata.
The case has been booked at Amruthahally Police Station. According to the FIR accessed by South First, Vijay alleged that he was asked to arrange ₹50 crore for the Channapatna by-election. He further alleged that Kumaraswamy threatened consequences if the demand was not met.
Vijay Tata also mentions former MLC Ramesh Gowda in the complaint.
The complaint from Vijay Tata follows Kumaraswamy’s recent extortion allegations against him.
HD Kumaraswamy recently alleging extortion by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Chandra Sekhar noted, “I have documents related to his dealings. There was a person named Vijay Tata, who ran a media organisation in the state. He was also involved in extortion rackets.”
“Around 2,000 chargesheets have been filed against him. Chandra Sekhar, in collusion with such a person, has been extorting money by intimidating people,” alleged the Union Minister.
Kumaraswamy alleged that the ADGP, who heads a Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the state’s Internal Security Division (ISD), is engaged in extortion, fabricating evidence, and leaking confidential documents from the Governor’s office.
According to FIR, Vijay Tata stated that he had been with the party since 2018.
“I have been involved with the JD(S) party since 2018, alongside running a real estate business. During my time in the party, I came to the attention of prominent leaders, including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. Noticing my activities within the party, I was invited to his residence in Padmanabhanagar, where, in the presence of HD Kumaraswamy, Deve Gowda personally congratulated me and officially appointed me as the vice president of the party’s social media department,” added Tata.
He continued: “After assuming this role, I participated in several meetings with senior party leaders, including Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy, and his son, Nikhil Kumaraswamy. We discussed various topics, such as the role of social media in strengthening the party’s presence. During the 2019 Mandya Lok Sabha elections, I led multiple social media campaigns in support of Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who was the party’s candidate.”
“I personally spent crores of rupees on these election campaigns and received repeated praise from both Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda for my dedication and work,” highlighted Tata.
He further said: “In recent years, I shifted my focus towards my real estate business, and was unable to actively engage in party activities. However, about a month ago, former JD(S) MLC Ramesh Gowda visited my house and encouraged me to rejoin the party’s activities. Kumaraswamy himself had been urging me to take on a more active role in organizing the party. On the night of 24 August 2024, Ramesh Gowda visited my home around 10 pm.”
“As we sat together for dinner, he informed me about the upcoming Channapatna assembly by-election and mentioned that Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s candidacy had been finalized. He urged me to be more active within the party,” pointed out Tata.
It was further mentioned in the FIR, “Ramesh Gowda called JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy. He handed me the phone, and Kumaraswamy inquired about my well-being before bringing up the by-election. He then stated, ‘This time, you have to pay ₹50 crore for the election expenses, which is crucial for us to win the Channapatna by-election’.”
Vijay stated that he had refused this demand, “I immediately replied, ‘Sir, I don’t have that much money. I need to focus on completing my real estate projects, but I will try to stay involved in the party’s activities.'”
Elaborating on the threat, Vijay noted, “Kumaraswamy, clearly angered by my response, issued a threat.”
According to Vijay, Kumaraswamy said, “I don’t know what I’ll do if you don’t arrange the ₹50 crore. It will not only be difficult to run your real estate business but also to lead a normal life,” and hung up the phone.
Vijay further alleged that following the threat, Ramesh Gowda pressurised him to arrange the ₹50 crore as Kumaraswamy had demanded, “Additionally, he requested ₹5 crore for a temple and a school he is constructing. He threatened that I would face severe consequences if I didn’t meet their demands.”
He added that Ramesh Gowda followed up on these demands through several WhatsApp messages, sent on 30 August, 6 and 11 September.
“JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy and former MLC Ramesh Gowda have conspired against me, demanding ₹50 crore under threats and pressure,” Tata demanded legal action against Kumaraswamy and Ramesh Gowda.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
