Seeking a fair probe into the Janthakal mining case, former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday said the Congress government was misusing power and attempting to tarnish his image.
“I am willing to be investigated. The ₹150-crore case was foisted against me by [former Chief Minister] B.S. Yeddyurappa. The Siddaramaiah government has reopened [the case] after 10 years as internal surveys of other parties have shown that the JD(S) would emerge as the single largest party in the Assembly polls,” he said at a media interaction organised by the Press Club and Reporters’ Guild.
Mr. Kumaraswamy had appeared before a Lokayukta Special Investigation Team last week after he was issued notice to appear in connection with the Janthakal case. “The alleged case does not exist. They have sought three weeks to provide documents. The investigation has to be conducted in a just and fair manner,” he said.
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On former Minister and Congress leader A.H. Vishwanath’s entry to the JD(S), Mr. Kumaraswamy confirmed that he has had several rounds of talks with him. “After Mr. Siddaramaiah left the party, we were looking for another leader to represent the backward classes. If [Mr. Vishwanath] joins the JD(S), it will also help us shrug off the father-child party tag,” he said.