Ready to face new probe in Hublot watch case: Ex-CM

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Sunday that he was ready to face another inquiry into the Hublot watch case by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) or any other agency.

Replying to queries from reporters here, Siddaramaiah said the ACB, which had inquired into the issue, had given a ‘B’ report, which meant there was no truth in the charges of wrongdoing.

The BJP has charged that Siddaramaiah as chief minister had misused his powers to hush up the case and got a ‘B’ report from ACB. It has sought a re-inquiry.

In a veiled attack on Union Minister Ananthkumar Hegde, Siddaramaiah said some people were speaking about changing the Constitution, claiming that they had come to power to change the Constitution, and that one should be careful about such persons.

Speaking to reporters at the Hubballi Airport, Siddaramaiah said Tipu Jayanti was being celebrated for the last three years as a government programme and it would continue this year.

“The chief minister recently announced that the birth anniversary of Tipu will be celebrated,” he said. He said the Cabinet expansion would take place after Deepavali.

He claimed that the Congress-JD(S) combine would win all the five seats that went to byelections.

“While there was hardly any fight between BJP and JD(S)-Congress in Ramanagara and Mandya, we are confident of winning Ballari and Jamakhandi seats comfortably. There is a tight fight in Shivamogga, but we are confident that the JD(S)-Congress combination will win that seat too,” he said.

By November-end, farmers will start getting loan-waiver letters, Siddaramaiah said.