DUDDANGI (GULBARGA DISTRICT): Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday rubbished the "evidence" on compact discs (CD) released by the MLC G. Janardhan Reddy, which was supposed to provide proof of the alleged payment of Rs. 150 crore bribe by mine owners in Bellary, and said it was noting but "hi-tech tampering" using the latest technology to sully his and his family's reputation.

Mr. Kumaraswamy was here to lay the foundation stone for the relocation of Duddangi village, which will be submerged in the backwaters of the Bhima Lift Irrigation Project.

The Chief Minister told presspersons that the release of the blurred video by Mr. Reddy showed that the people of the State and the media had been taken for a ride. "I was aware of the details of the CD released today, and I know how many times Mr. Reddy visited Hyderabad and Mumbai to prepare a CD that has been tampered with," he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said he would not resign from the post of Chief Minister. "Why should I resign on a corruption charge that does not have any basis or evidence? This is not a play, and I have been elected to run the Government and not to run away," he said.

He said the release of the CD should open the eyes of the media. He said the truth could not be concealed for long. "The law will take its own course," he said.

Documents

On the documents and bank account statements released by Mr. Reddy, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that he did not want to comment on the business transactions between a few mine owners and his family members. The cheque transactions were open to public scrutiny and scrutiny by the Income Tax Department.

"My family members and I are all income tax assessees. All our dealings are open and there is nothing to hide," he said.

He said his family members were being subjected to a vilification campaign by their political detractors because his family had a long history of fighting for justice and working for the welfare of the people and farmers.

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