Congress demands resignation of industry minister

Bangalore, Jul 21 (UNI) Stating that Karantaka Industry Minister Muregesh Nirani was facing charges of 'power theft,' Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesman V S Ugrappa, MLC, today demanded Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to remove the minister from the cabinet.

Addressing a press conference here, he said when the state was facing power crisis, the minister was allegedly indulging in theft of power to the tune of Rs 2.82 crore.

Demanding resignation of the minister, the Congress leader said an attempt was being made to get the name of the minister removed from the First Information Report (FIR) submitted to the court by the police.

Stating that Mr Nirani, who is out bail, may have indulged in tampering with evidence and intimidating the witnesses, he demanded the resignation of the minister.

Mr Ugrappa also circulated copies of the FIR filed against the minister by the Bagalkot district police for stealing power for running a cement unit owned by the minister.

A complaint was lodged with the Vigilance Police station at Bagalkot on February 27, 2008, he said.

The Chargesheet was yet to be filed in the court while the accused were on bail, he added.

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