Kumaraswamy booked for extortion

A case has been registered against Minister of Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy on charges of extortion and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a realtor here, the police said on Thursday.

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Along with Kumaraswamy, former JD(S) MLC Ramesh Gowda was also booked by the Amruthahalli police in the case. Vijay Tata, the complainant, alleged that he was the JD(S) social media vice-president, but had distanced himself from the party as he was focusing on his real estate business.

However, on August 24, Gowda came home and called Kumaraswamy from his phone. The minister told him that the party needed Rs 50 crore for the Channapatna bypoll as it had decided to field his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy this time, Tata alleged.

The realtor also claimed that when he expressed his inability to pay the “extortion amount”, Kumaraswamy allegedly threatened him with dire consequences.

Reacting to the allegation, Kumaraswamy told reporters: “Is this a topic to discuss? Should I answer all this? Should I respond to every other dog on the street?” — PTI