KSE defends himself over Lokayukta raid

“When the Lokayukta raided my house,  it found a currency counting machine and not a printing machine.”  This is how BJP MLC K S Eshwarappa defended the raid on his Shivamogga house some years ago. When Eshwarappa on Friday sought to move a motion to discuss Governor Vajubhai Vala’s letter to the government, Congress’ Ugrappa said the BJP leader had no moral authority to discuss the matter, as his house was raided by the Lokayukta, when a currency counting machine was seized.

Eshwarappa shot back saying that if the Chairman permitted him, he was even ready to produce the machine before the House. He went on to say that he was a businessman, running several agencies and hence bought the machine by paying Rs 5,000. The Lokayukta returned the seized machine.

Minister H K Patil said that corruption charges were being levelled by a party whose half a dozen ministers had gone to prison. “Even a former chief minister of the party was jailed,” he said. Immediately, BJP members retorted that the CBI had arrested a Congress leader too.

Meanwhile, Council Chairman D H Shankarmurthy has kept in abeyance the BJP and the JD(S)’ request to discuss the Governor’s letter.