Hassan (Karnataka): Arrested BJP leader G Devaraje Gowda alleged that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar offered him £10 mn to malign the names of former Chief Minister and JDS state President HD Kumaraswamy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters from the police vehicle after being sent to judicial custody, Gowda claimed that Shivakumar even sent him £500,000 as advance.
"After I refused the offer, police cases were lodged against me and I was arrested. I am ready to expose him (DK Shivakumar) once I am released. The Congress government is going to collapse in Karnataka," he claimed.
Gowda added, "I was told to make a statement that it was HD Kumaraswamy who circulated the pen drives containing sex videos (involving Kumaraswamy's nephew Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of ex-PM HD Deve Gowda). But it was Shivakumar who obtained the pen drive from Karthik Gowda, who worked as a driver for Prajwal Revanna, and planned the entire episode."
A team of four ministers, including N Cheluvarayaswamy, Krishna Byre Gowda, and Priyank Kharge, was formed to handle the developments relating to the sex video scandal, Gowda claimed.
"They had planned in a big way to bring disrepute to Prime Minister Modi, HD Kumaraswamy and the BJP. They offered me £10 mn and sent £500,000 as advance to Room No. 110 at Bowring Club. A local leader from Channarayapatna, Gopalaswamy, was sent to negotiate the deal," Gowda claimed.
"I have the audio recordings of Shivakumar's conversations. I will release them and the Congress government will collapse once I am out of prison," Gowda claimed as the police vehicle drove off.
Gowda was arrested by the police six days ago in a sexual harassment and atrocity case.
