I Spoke to Lokayukta ADGP but didn't threaten: Deve Gowda

Bangalore, Nov 12: Facing the heat over his alleged attempt to intimidate a top Lokayukta police officer, JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda today (Nov 12) admitted speaking to him over phone but rejected charges that he held out a threat in connection with the ongoing probe in a wealth case against his eldest son.

As Gowda's alleged threatening call to Lokayukta ADGP Jeevan Kumar B Gaonkar, since transferred, erupted into a major controversy, the Lokayukta police sent a 'confidential report' to the Karnataka Government on the issue.

"Certain words used by Gowda during the talk were unpalatable" and Lokayukta Police thought it fit to bring the development to government's notice, Lokayukta police sources told PTI on condition of anonymity. Gowda said "It is true that I have said that limits are being overstepped, and there is limit to every thing", but he didn't "threaten" Goankar, who was transferred from the post two days ago as ADGP Administration.

The former prime minister said he told Goankar: "Don't give me an opportunity to hold a dharna in front of the Chief Minister's house. Do work which is appreciated by the people". Lokayukta police are investigating a disproportionate assets case against Gowda's son, H D Balakrishne Gowda, who opted for voluntary retirement from government service. The FIR against him was filed under Prevention of Corruption Act on the direction of Lokayukta court on a private complaint.

Balakrishne Gowda has been accused of amassing wealth to the tune of Rs 300 crore when he was a Karnataka Administration Officer in the complaint filed by H N Balakrishna, a government engineer. As part of the probe, Lokyukta police had conducted raids on the residences of Balakrishnegowda in Bangalore and Mysore.

Besides his father, Balakrishne Gowda is alleged to have made a phone call to Lokayukta SP, Shivashankar. Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who was with Deve Gowda at the press conference, said: "We did not interfere in the case".

Deve Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy accused the Lokayukta police of treating their family and that of former Chief Miniter B S Yeddyurappa differently during their probe in corruption cases against them. While Lokayukta police completed raids on the residences of Yeddyurappa's sons and son--in-law in two hours, it did so for a full day when it came to his family, Deve Gowda said.

"About 138 policemen simultaneously raided the premises of my son, his relatives, and in tens of places continuously from 6 am to 7 pm. Raids were conducted on the premises of people whose names are not there in the complaint", he alleged.

A group of around a dozen ruling BJP MLAs had yesterday appealed to the Lokayukta Court to take suo motto cognisance of Deve Gowda and his two sons allegedly threatening police officials inquiring into the case against Balakrishne Gowda.

PTI