Congress leader Shivakumar alleges false cases by govt against him

Bangalore, Nov 15 (UNI) Former Karnataka Minister D K Shivakumar today alleged that the ruling Janata Dal (Secular) had indulged in 'vindictive politics' against him by filing 'false cases' involving his family members.

Releasing the copies of the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the forest department officials for allegedly stocking iron ore in Sandur taluk in Bellary district, he said the authorities had arrested three people belonging to a company in connection with the case.

Replying to questions he said the forest officials had filed cases against his wife Usha, brother D K Suresh, sister Manjula Shantachandra and two of his cousins in connection with the case.

Police were waiting near their houses to arrest them, he revealed saying that they were only 'sleeping partners' with the company which had stocked the iron ore.

He challenged that he could not be cowed down by his archrival Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy through such false cases. He would not seek bail in connection with the case and was ready to face consequences. He sarcastically remarked that Mr Kumaraswamy had assured the people in Kanakapura prior to the formation of the government that he would send him (Shivakumar) to jail one day and that his dream had been fulfilled now. All these were being done to ''prevent me from participating in the campaign for the Assembly byelection in Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysore,'' he remarked.

Opposition leader Dharam Singh, who was also present, charged that the JD(S) was frustrated and knew the outcome of the byelection. This was the reason to indulge in 'witchhunting' of congress leaders. It was unfortunate that the coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party had totally surrendered for the sake of power, he chided.

The forest department officials, in their FIR, explained that iron ore weighing 2.76 lakh tons worth around Rs 27.66 crore were stocked in two places at Nandihalli in Bellary district. A detail investigation had shown that this was illegal stocking through misuse of permit to loot the resources.

UNI SR MS KP1433