Karnataka CID's DGP fears HD Deve Gowda witch-hunt

Director general of police (DGP) for Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Shankar M Bidari wrote to the state government on Friday, requesting that the case regarding irregularities and misappropriations in the Upper Krishna Project (UKP)—alleged to have taken place between 1995 and 1998—be handed over to the Lok Ayukta.

Bidari ordered a probe into the UKP on October 19 and the CID police registered an FIR at the Vidhana Soudha police station on October 24. Later, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and his son, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, alleged that Bidari registered the case at the behest of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa. Bidari denied these allegation.

Bidari said the CID is ready to investigate the case, but it could be criticised even it conducted the investigation in an impartial manner. Therefore, Bidari wrote to the chief Secretary, seeking to transfer the case to the Lok Ayukta.

“Though the CID and I are committed to conduct a fair and impartial investigation in this case, I’m afraid that our investigation will be affected by the stigma of allegations made by Gowda. The allegations contained in the FIR involve works of the irrigation department, which require technical expertise and constant advice and assistance of senior engineers. Senior engineers are not available to the CID, whereas the Lok Ayukta has access.

Therefore, I have requested the government to entrust the investigation to the Lok Ayukta, which is not under the control of the government, unlike the CID,” said Bidari.