'CM took Rs 150-cr kickback for steel flyover'

BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of taking Rs 150 crore as kickback for sanctioning the controversial steel flyover in Bengaluru.

This, according to Yeddyurappa, was part of an effort to mobilise funds for the Congress party. Of the Rs 150 crore, Rs 65 crore has already been paid to the party high command.

Details of the amount paid to party bosses in Delhi are available in a diary maintained by Congress MLC K Govindraj, whose residence was raided by income tax sleuths a few days ago, he told reporters here.

Though Yeddyurappa claimed he got the information from some Congress leaders and ‘honest’ officials, he did not release any document to substantiate his charges. He said he will disclose everything at the appropriate time.

“Let the chief minister and Govindraj deny the charges... The diary makes a mention of the payment. It is part of Rs 1,000 crore he (Siddaramaiah) has paid to the high command... He must resign immediately,” Yeddyurappa said.

The government wants to implement the flyover project between Basaveshwara circle and Hebbal despite public outcry. “Why is it (the government) showing special interest in implementing the project?... It is daylight robbery. It is a classic case of the fence eating the grass. Siddaramaiah is aware of all the details. He should clarify the issue on the floor of the House in the ongoing session,” he said, adding that the BJP will seek to move an adjournment motion in this regard in the Upper House.

Yeddyurappa said the diary cannot be compared with the Sahara-Birla papers involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming it was only a piece of paper. “Govindraj is like a treasurer to Siddaramaiah. He acted like a postman between the chief minister and the party. He has mentioned all the details as to when the money was paid and to whom in the diary... Whatever I am saying, is a fact,” he added.

He also denied charges by Congress leaders that the BJP at the Centre is misusing the income tax department to destabilise the state government. The government will fall on its own because of its misdeeds, Yeddyurappa added.