Forest land scam CD sparks tension in K'taka Council

Belgaum, Sep 27 (UNI) Noisy scenes and heated exchanges were today witnessed in the Karnataka Legislative Council when, Leader of the Opposition H K Patil sought to move an adjournment motion demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the Rs 800 crore forest land scandal, unearthed by a private TV channel.

Speaking on the admissibility of the motion, Mr Patil said the issue was of serious nature and all concerned, including Transport Commissioner Narayan Gowda, should be suspended immediately. He had already submitted the CD aired by the channel to the Council Chairman, he added.

At this point, one of the ruling party members remarked about a photograph showing Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly N Dharam Singh and senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge in the company of police official Sangram Singh, an accused in the Telgi scam.

Responding to the remark, the Opposition Congress members referred to the CD, released by suspended BJP MLC Janardhan Reddy and allegedly containing proof against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in the Rs 150 crore bribery case. Irked by the reference to his CD, Mr Reddy asked the members not to talk about it.

Following this, the entire House was plunged into chaos and Acting Chairman Sachidananda Khot adjourned the House for ten minutes.

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