MLC and JD(S) spokesperson YSV Datta on Monday alleged that MLC Janardana Reddy had submitted a false affidavit of his assets and liabilities to the Election Commission, at the time of submitting nomination papers for the Legislative Council polls.

Speaking at a press conference in Bangalore on Monday, Mr Datta charged Mr Reddy of keeping the Election Commission in the dark, about his involvement in eight companies, while submitting his affidavit.

“There are differences between records shown in the affidavit submitted on May 19, 2006 and his actual financial position filed at income tax department and other agencies just two months before”, alleged Mr Datta.

Releasing documents of 543 pages in three volumes, he said Mr Reddy had not disclosed his partnership in Ennoble Construction, Raghavendra Constructions and Ananthapur Mining Corporation in the affidavit, though his total share in these companies was more than Rs 6 crore. Similarly, he did not disclose the details of immovable property, he alleged.

Mr Datta said that while Mr Reddy’s investment on shares and mutual funds was more than Rs 10 lakh he had shown only Rs 7,000 in the affidavit. “Disclosing false records in the affidavit submitted to Election Commission amounts to grievous offence and if the accused is proved guilty, he may be even imprisoned”, he said.

Inquiry

Mr Datta said he has already submitted a complaint to Lokayukta demanding inquiry against Mr Reddy. A similar complaint will be submitted to Election Commission in the next two days.

The JD(S) leader said that Mr Reddy made allegation of corruption close to Rs 150 crore against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. But he did not give any valid document to substantiate his allegation. “I have provided enough evidence to prove Mr Reddy guilty of submitting a false affidavit to the Election Commission”, he said.

Reddy’s reaction: Mr Reddy, however, denied the allegation made by JD(S) spokesperson YSV Datta as baseless and “completely false.”

He told Deccan Herald that he had not submitted a false affidavit to the Election Commission. “Whatever I have submitted to the Election Commission is true”, he said and termed Mr Datta’s allegations as a “conspiracy” of Deve Gowda’s family to “harm his  political career.”

“Mr Datta is trying to create confusion among the masses, as I have decided to take out a yatra to spread awareness among the public about the chief minister’s involvement in corruption worth Rs 150 crore”, he said.

“I am ready to face punishment if I have done any wrong. The State government should order for a CBI inquiry into corruption charges made against the Chief Minister as well as me. Let the CBI decide who is guilty”, he said.

He said he has already prepared his reply to the notice issued by the Lokayukta regarding the complaint filed by Mr Datta.