Minister facing power theft charge should resign: Congress

Bangalore, Jul 21(UNI) Charging 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 that when the State is facing power crisis and people were put to lot of hardship, the Minister was allegedly indulged in theft of power to the tune of Rs 2.82 crores.

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

Stating that the Mr Nirani, who is facing charge of power theft and out on bail by the court may be indulged to tamper the evidence and intimidate the witnesses into the case and demanded his resignation from the cabinet.

Mr Ugrappa also circulated the copies of FIR filed against the minister by the Bagalkot district police for having allegedly stolen the power for running the Cement unit owned by the minister. A complaint has been lodged with the Vigilance Police station HESCOM Bagalkot on 27 February 2008. The Charge sheet was yet to be filed in the court while the accused were on bail, he said.

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