Witnesses examined in defamation suit against Kumaraswamy

Bellary, Karnataka, Aug 10 (UNI) Examination of witnesses was taken up when the defamation suit filed by suspended BJP member G Janardhana Reddy against Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his two ministerial colleagues came up before a local court today.

Contrary to senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj's recent announcement that he would withdraw the case to amicably settle the issue, a defiant Mr Reddy appeared before the court to go ahead with the case against state Forests Minister C Chennigappa and Home Minister M P Prakash, besides Mr Kumaraswamy.

After the witnesses deposed, Judicial Magistrate First Class (Junior Division) Judge U Chandrasekhar posted the case to August 12.

Mr Reddy's counsel K Venkatesulu examined Zilla Panchayat member Rudre Gowda, Mr Vorupaksha Gowda and Mr Karibasappa.

The witnesses said Mr Kumaraswamy's statement that Mr Reddy had lost his mental balance, after the latter accused him of receiving a bribe of Rs 150 crore from the mining lobby in the district, had hurt their feelings.

Mr Reddy had levelled the bribery allegation against Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Chennigappa only to retract it following the intervention of BJP's top brass. However, he stuck to his charge on the floor of the Legislative Council, prompting Mr Kumaraswamy to term him mentally imbalanced. Irked by the remark, the BJP leader filed the defamation suit.

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