In the letter purportedly criticising Cheluvarayaswamy, seven assistant agriculture administrators posted in Mandya district have accused the minister of demanding Rs 6 to eight lakh from officers of the division.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has questioned whether or not the BJP or its “brother” was behind a “fake letter” accusing Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy of demanding bribes from officers after the Governor requested the federal government to probe the criticism.
The “brother” comment was an apparent dig at JD(S) chief and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. The opposition BJP and the JD(S) have been warming up to one another after the current Assembly elections.
In the letter purportedly criticising Cheluvarayaswamy, seven assistant agriculture administrators posted in Mandya district have accused the minister of demanding Rs 6 to eight lakh from officers of the division. The complainants, within the letter, threatened to finish their lives together with their relations if such corrupt practices are usually not stopped.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday tweeted: “It has come out that the letter in circulation in the public domain is fake. The joint agriculture director has already clarified that no officers in the district have written such a letter,” he added.
“The leaders of BJP, are you the creator of such a fake letter spreading slander against the government or your brother?” he tweeted. The Chief Minister mentioned the matter could be reviewed by the federal government and warranted that an investigation could be performed, if crucial.
After receiving the letter, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot referred it to Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma on August 1 to look into the difficulty and take required motion as per the foundations. Minister Cheluvarayaswamy too mentioned the letter to the Governor in opposition to him seems to be faux and mentioned that he would attempt to confirm its authenticity.
Cheluvarayaswamy mentioned he spoke to Agriculture Joint Director of Mandya district V S Ashoka, who mentioned it was a faux letter.
Meanwhile, Ashoka convened a gathering on Monday with the assistant administrators of all taluks in Mandya and enquired with them whether or not they wrote any letter to the Governor. “They all said in unison that they have not written any letter to the Governor,” he advised PTI.
Minister Cheluvarayaswamy mentioned: “It appears to be a fake letter. Some people are trying to dig out something about me. I will ask the secretary of our department to investigate it.”
