Hublot case: Complaint against Karnataka CM dismissed

BENGALURU: In a relief to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Lokayukta Special Court on Saturday has dismissed a complaint filed against him and others in connection with the wrist watch scam.

The court has dismissed the complaint filed by president of anti-graft and environment forum, T.J. Abraham. In his complaint he had also named PWD Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, PWD Executive Engineer L. Raghu, KSPCB Chairman Lakshman and Dr Girish Chandra Verma.

Siddaramaiah had earlier claimed that his close friend of three decades Dr Girish Chandra, a resident of Dubai, had gifted him Hublot watch worth Rs 45 lakh. The complainant alleged that Siddaramaiah has received the watch as a bribe to place the file of L. Raghu before the Cabinet and deny Lokayukta the sanction to prosecute Raghu.

It had also accused that PWD Minister also received a Hublot watch worth Rs 45 lakh as a bribe for calling for the file and to refuse sanction for Lokayukta’s prosecution of Raghu. The file is with the Minister since November 26, 2015, complaint stated.

With the Lokayukta Special Court dismissing the complaint, Abraham has said that he will challenge the order before high court.