CM Siddaramaiah defends Minister George in Ganapathy case

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has defended Minister for Bengaluru Development KJ George, who was named as an accused in an first information report (FIR) filed regarding the alleged suicide of deputy superintendent of police MK Ganapathy.

Responding to BJP's demands for George's resignation, Siddaramaiah said that the accusations are politically motivated in order to tarnish the image the Congress government in the state. "This type of attitude by the BJP is with the intention to make political gains. BJP leaders’ allegations are politically motivated," he said.

The chief minister said George was re-inducted after CID gave him clean chit. “BJP is using CBI as a political tool. Twenty ministers including Cabinet ministers in Modi government are facing charges,’’ the chief minister said.Karnataka law minister TB Jayachandra also came to the defence of George, also saying that BJP's agenda is to malign Congress' image.

Defending George, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ramesh Kumar has said the case was an old one that has been handed over to the CBI. “George resigned as Home Minister as soon as charges were levelled against him. People know how agencies such as I-T and CBI are misused,’’ Ramesh Kumar said.