Mangaluru: The Hublot watch of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is in the news again after Former DySP of Kudligi, Anupama Shenoy shot off a letter to Speaker K.B. Koliwad alleging massive corruption involving the watch.
“I had written to the Speaker on July 21 on the corruption behind the Hublot watch of the CM. I have also asked the Speaker to protect the watch as it is an important evidence of CM Siddaramaiah’s corruption, and also direct the booking of an FIR against the concerned persons,” Anupama Shenoy told Deccan Chronicle. “In the letter I have provided the Speaker with six documents as proof. We will provide additional information once the probe into the case is initiated,” she said.
“The watch was provided to the Chief Minister by Dr Girishchandra Varma who is an employee of NMC Healthcare, the company owned by businessman B.R. Shetty. The watch controversy was in the news in February 2016. Following this, the CM had declared that he would hand over the watch to the Speaker. Meanwhile during the same time, the power of the Lokayukta was curbed and the Anti-Corruption Bureau was launched. In August 2016 the government handed over two major projects- development of the government hospital in Udupi and development of Jog Falls to the same B.R. Shetty,” she alleged.
The two page letter dated July 21 was addressed to Speaker Koliwad and written in Kannada by Anupama Shenoy.
“You (the Speaker) know about the watch which was presented to Siddaramaiah by his Dubai-based ‘best friend’ Dr Girishchandra Varma. The state government had come to an understanding with the company for which Verma is working and had handed over two projects neglecting all government rules,” she claimed in the letter.
She has also asked if the watch which was handed over to then speaker Kagodu Timmappa has been transferred to the custody of then Chief Secretary Aravind Jadav and if it was placed in the cabinet hall. “I request you to protect the watch and ensure that it is not stolen or destroyed by anybody. This watch is the only proof for the corruption of Siddaramaiah. Thus I request you to ensure the protection of the watch. Also I request you to direct the custodian of the watch to file an FIR,” she stated in the letter.
