Having currency counting machine is no crime: KS Eshwarappa

Bengaluru: Disturbed over being targeted by ruling Congress members for having a currency counting machine at his residence, opposition leader in the Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa asserted that having a counting machine at home is not a crime.

The issue came up when Mr Eshwarappa sought permission to discuss the Governor’s letter to the Chief Minister on farmers’ suicide saying corruption was rampant in the Congress government. Congress member V.S. Ugrappa hit back saying a currency counting machine was found in the opposition leader’s house and not at the residence of any Congress leader. Mr Eshwarappa defended himself saying he had only a currency counting machine and not a currency printing machine.

“Since I am involved in business activity and am a member of various societies, a currency counting machine is needed for me to count currency notes because counting them by hand at night is very difficult,” Mr Eshwarappa said. He revealed that the Lokayukta police had raided his residence and found the currency counting machine. “They have given me a clean chit, if the House demands, I am ready to place the Lokayukta report before it,” he said.