Balakrishne Gowda has dirty money: Chargesheet

Lokayukta officials on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda’s son HD Balakrishne Gowda in the Lokayukta court, claiming that he has amassed wealth disproportionate to his known source of income.

The chargesheet states that Balakrishne Gowda, a former KAS officer, had assets worth Rs12.6 crore when he retired. Deputy superintendent of police (Lokayukta), Prasanna V Raju, said that Balakrishne Gowda was found to be possessing assets worth Rs17.5 crore. In total, he has been accused of amassing disproportionate assets worth Rs75 crore.

The chargesheet states that Balakrishne Gowda earned Rs27 lakh while working with the KAS and bought 21 properties in and around the state till his retirement. After he retired, he bought 30 properties, worth Rs75 crore, between 2005 and 2008. The Lokayukta officials have submitted a list of properties he has bought along with supporting documents.

Balakrishne Gowda has termed the developments as a politically motivated campaign. He said he had filed property declaration in time and booking a case against him seven years after he retired reeked of a political motive. He said he would challenge the chargesheet in the court.

The Lokayukta officials filed the chargesheet just a day after the Lokayukta special court pulled up the corruption watchdog’s police wing for delaying probe.