Days after his political nemesis H D Kumaraswamy launched an attack on him for owning expensive watches and not declaring the same, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah broke his silence on Thursday claiming that the said Hublot watch was gifted to him by a Dubai-based surgeon friend of over 30 years.

Siddaramaiah, who convened a press conference at his home office “Krishna” to give his reaction to the Union Railway Budget, decided to use the platform to clarify on the watch controversy.

Ever since the controversy broke out that he sported the Swizz-made Hublot watch costing Rs 70 lakh, Siddaramaiah has been facing the heat from all quarters seeking his clarification on whether he has abandoned his socialistic ideologies. He said that the “second hand” watch adorned with “diamond like looking objects”, had been gifted to him by his friend  Dr Girish Chandra Varma  “in July 2015”. 

According to the affidavit furnished by Dr Varma on February 22, the watch costs 75,000 UAE Dirhams, (Rs 14 lakh), Siddaramaiah said.  The chief minister said that he will declare the watch to the Income Tax Department by March 15 and before the Lokayukta in June. He would also pay the ‘gift tax’ and pledge the watch to the state government.