HUBBALLI: Admitting that he met the brother of slain ZP member Yogesh Gouda a few months ago, mines and geology minister Vinay Kulkarni said on Saturday he never tried to interfere in the investigation or exert pressure on anyone to shield the accused.
He told the media in Dharwad that deputy superintendent of police Tulajappa has been functioning as an “agent of the BJP” to tarnish his image. The police officer reportedly mentioned his name during a telephonic conversation while trying to broker compromise formula with the brother of the deceased BJP leader.
Stating that he has not threatened the advocate of the slain BJP leader’s family for providing legal assistance, the minister claimed that he has merely vent his ire against the lawyer for anonymous letters being sent to his residence. He also warned of legal actions against those are responsible for circulating such letters against his family. Suspecting the involvement of Amruth Desai, a BJP ticket aspirant against him in the next Assembly elections, behind circulation of such letters, he said he would initiate legal action against him. Expressing regret over use of some unparliamentary words while blaming the lawyer in a telephonic conversation, the minister said that no case was pending against him.
