Bengaluru: The much-hyped Special Investigation Team (SIT), announced by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on the floor of the House on February 11 to probe the controversial audio clip, is yet to be formed. The delay has diluted the need for a timely and impartial investigation into grave charges of corruption in the Executive and Legislature.
The audio tape, released by the CM to the media on February 8, has purported conversations among former chief minister and BJP state president B. S. Yedyurappa, BJP MLA from Devadurga, Shivanagouda Nayak, and Sharanagouda Kandakur, son of JD(S) MLA Naganagouda Kandakur, in which the former two had allegedly sought to lure the JD(S) MLA with huge amounts of money and a minister’s post while casting serious aspersions on the Speaker, who they had alleged has been “booked” to accept the resignations of the coalition MLAs.
“The CM cannot go back on the constitution of the SIT, because he announced it in the Assembly. The delay if reportedly because of political reasons because a fair investigation may expose a lot of muck, which no politician or political party can afford on the eve of general elections,” said a well-placed source. “It suits everybody to play it down,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Yeddyurappa, Mr Shivanagouda and others were recently granted bail after Sharangouda filed a complaint against them under Section 506 (punishment for intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code at the Devadurga police station.
