State govt misusing ACB, says BSY

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday accused the state government of misusing the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to target those who speak against the ruling party.

Reacting to reports that the ACB was planning to raid the Income Tax department’s officials, Yeddyurappa said that the I-T sleuths need not worry as his party would bring the matter to the Centre’s notice. He described the ACB as “Siddaramaiah protection bureau”.

Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet colleagues, however, maintained that the ACB has not been misused.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the Centre was misusing the I-T department, Enforcement Directorate and the CBI, and not the state government. He said that the government has never interfered in the ACB’s functioning.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra also said the ACB is functioning well within its jurisdiction.