SR Hiremath, convenor of NGO Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS), has alleged that senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar had tried to get the cases against him withdrawn when BS Yeddyurappa was the chief minister.
“Shivakumar, then working president of the Congress in the state, had written a letter to Yeddyurappa requesting him to withdraw cases related to quarrying filed against him, his relatives and companies he is associated with. In his letter dated November 19, 2009, Shivakumar stated that cases filed against him by the previous HD Kumaraswamy government were politically motivated,” Hiremath said.
The forest department had filed cases against Shivakumar, DK Suresh (brother of DK Shivakumar), Swami Balagangadharanatha, Indian Rocks, Henraux India, Skanda, CVS Granite, Gemini Exports and United Exports.
In his letter Shivakumar said: “The previous government filed cases against Swami Balagangadharanatha for illegal encroachment of forest area. Swami Balagangadharanatha is the head of the Vokkaliga community and has been involved in charitable activities. The previous government filed cases against him without noticing his social services.”
Commenting on UV Singh committee, which was constituted to look into cases against him, Shivakumar stated findings of committee were prejudiced. “The committee carried out a survey at the behest of the then forest minister and ruling party leaders, who were my political opponents, to tarnish my image,” Shivakumar stated.
When asked whether Yeddyurappa withdrew the cases after receiving Shivakumar’s letter, Hiremath said: “When Yeddyurappa was the chief minister, he withdrew criminal cases against his cabinet colleagues G Janardhana Reddy and R Sriramulu. However, in Shivakumar’s case, I do not know if he acted after getting the letter."
