Arrest Deve Gowda and his two sons: BJP

Nearly a dozen ruling Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs in Karnataka on Saturday appealed to the Lokayukta court to take suo motto cognisance of H D Deve Gowda and his two sons for allegedly threatening police officials inquiring into a case against the former prime minister's eldest son H D Balakrishne Gowda.

Addressing a press conference, the MLAs, under the leadership of Excise Minister M P Renukacharya, slammed Gowda for reportedly "threatening" Lokayukta Assistant Director General of Police Jeevan Gaonkar in connection with the on-going probe ordered by the Lokayukta court, on a private complaint against Balakrishne Gowda.

The complainant has alleged that Balakrishne Gowda had amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Renukacharya and political secretary to the chief minister B J Puttaswamy also objected to the "telephonic threat" to Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Shivakumar by Deve Gowda and his son.

Gaonkar was transferred from the post by the government on Thursday.

They also questioned the recent meeting between Gowda's another son, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, with CID Director General of Police Shankar Bidari recently in connection with the FIR filed on the alleged financial irregularities while awarding a contract in Upper Krishna project between 1995-98, when Deve Gowda was the chief minister.

Puttaswamy said he was contemplating approaching the Lokayukta court to seek an investigation against Gowda and his sons, for allegedly preventing officials from discharging their duties and attempting to "destroy" evidence.

The actions by Deve Gowda amounted to contempt of court, Puttaswamy claimed, but could not explain the reasons behind the sudden transfer of Gaonkar.

Renukacharaya, a staunch supporter of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, hit out at former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde for his silence over the 'threats' by the Gowdas.

He said he would write to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, seeking action against Kumaraswamy, for threatening a police official.

BJP legislators D N Jeevaraj, Chandranna, Chandrakanat Bellad, G S Nyamegowda, Suresh Gowda, Dr Vishwanth, Srishailappa Bidaroor and others were present at the press meet.