<p>Bengaluru: Bengaluru police on Thursday filed an First Information Report (FIR) and named Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy as accused 2 and former MLC HM Ramesh Gowda as accused 1 after a realtor, who claimed to be the vice president of the social media wing for the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, alleged that the duo demanded Rs 50 crore and issued threats.</p><p>The FIR was registered by the Amruthahalli police in the northeastern division on Thursday afternoon and BNS Sections 308 (2) (extortion) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) were invoked. Vijay Tata, a resident of Dasarahalli, filed a complaint with the Amruthahalli police on Tuesday and sought their protection. </p><p>Tata, 58, claimed that he was seen with the party since 2018, led social media campaigns for the Mandya constituency in 2019 during the Lok Sabha elections and spent "crores of his own money". He also claimed that he was appointed as the vice-president of the party’s social media wing by HD Deve Gowda at his Padmanabha Nagar residence in the presence of Kumaraswamy.</p>.Congress to march to Raj Bhavan seeking HD Kumaraswamy's prosecution.<p>The JD(S), however, has said that Tata was neither associated with the party nor with its social media wing.</p><p>Tata has alleged that on August 24 at around 10 pm, Gowda arrived at his house and began talking about Channapatna by-election. Tata claimed that Gowda told him that the party finalised giving the ticket to Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy and sought his participation in party activities.</p><p>Further, Tata alleged that Gowda called Kumaraswamy and gave him the phone. During the conversation, Kumaraswamy allegedly demanded Rs 50 crore from Tata for the expenses during the Channapatna by-election. When Tata told Kumaraswamy that he didn’t have such a large amount, the Union Minister allegedly threatened him. </p><p>"He [Kumaraswamy] told me that if I didn't pay up, it would be difficult for me to operate my real estate business and to live in the city," Tata alleged.</p><p>Meanwhile, Gowda, too, told Tata to keep Rs 50 crore ready and demanded another Rs 5 crore for “building temple and school” and threatened consequences if he didn't comply, as per the FIR. Tata claimed that Gowda sent him WhatsApp messages on August 30, September 6 and September 11, regarding the same.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Bengaluru police on Thursday filed an First Information Report (FIR) and named Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy as accused 2 and former MLC HM Ramesh Gowda as accused 1 after a realtor, who claimed to be the vice president of the social media wing for the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, alleged that the duo demanded Rs 50 crore and issued threats.</p><p>The FIR was registered by the Amruthahalli police in the northeastern division on Thursday afternoon and BNS Sections 308 (2) (extortion) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) were invoked. Vijay Tata, a resident of Dasarahalli, filed a complaint with the Amruthahalli police on Tuesday and sought their protection. </p><p>Tata, 58, claimed that he was seen with the party since 2018, led social media campaigns for the Mandya constituency in 2019 during the Lok Sabha elections and spent "crores of his own money". He also claimed that he was appointed as the vice-president of the party’s social media wing by HD Deve Gowda at his Padmanabha Nagar residence in the presence of Kumaraswamy.</p>.Congress to march to Raj Bhavan seeking HD Kumaraswamy's prosecution.<p>The JD(S), however, has said that Tata was neither associated with the party nor with its social media wing.</p><p>Tata has alleged that on August 24 at around 10 pm, Gowda arrived at his house and began talking about Channapatna by-election. Tata claimed that Gowda told him that the party finalised giving the ticket to Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy and sought his participation in party activities.</p><p>Further, Tata alleged that Gowda called Kumaraswamy and gave him the phone. During the conversation, Kumaraswamy allegedly demanded Rs 50 crore from Tata for the expenses during the Channapatna by-election. When Tata told Kumaraswamy that he didn’t have such a large amount, the Union Minister allegedly threatened him. </p><p>"He [Kumaraswamy] told me that if I didn't pay up, it would be difficult for me to operate my real estate business and to live in the city," Tata alleged.</p><p>Meanwhile, Gowda, too, told Tata to keep Rs 50 crore ready and demanded another Rs 5 crore for “building temple and school” and threatened consequences if he didn't comply, as per the FIR. Tata claimed that Gowda sent him WhatsApp messages on August 30, September 6 and September 11, regarding the same.</p>
