Bengaluru: Anti-corruption crusader TJ Abraham on Saturday accused Karnataka Chief Minister’s office of using the Intelligence Department to gather information about a fine imposed on him by the Supreme Court.
This move, Abraham alleges, is linked to his persistent pursuit of a case against the Chief Minister’s family regarding the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
In a statement here, he claimed that officials from the Intelligence Department have been making inquiries with various media houses to collect details about the fine. He believes the motive behind this investigation is to tarnish his reputation.
“The Chief Minister’s office, through the Intelligence Department, is trying to collect details about a fine imposed on me by the Supreme Court,” Abraham stated. “The aim is understandable—to tarnish my image because I am relentlessly pursuing the MUDA case against the CM’s family.”
The anti-corruption crusader disclosed that the fine, amounting to Rs 25 lakhs, was imposed in July 2017 over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) he filed. The PIL was against a decision by the Chief Minister, Siddaramiah, to overrule reports and decisions of officers concerning the construction of a Mini Vidhana Soudha in the Kalaburagi district. This fine was widely reported in the media at the time.
“Ponnanna, the legal advisor to the Chief Minister, is well aware of the issue and has used it to his advantage before the Karnataka High Court,” Abraham added. He also mentioned that he had personally argued before the Supreme Court and succeeded in getting the fine reduced, a fact that was not widely reported by the media.
Abraham extended an invitation to the Intelligence Department, stating, “The Intelligence Department is free to come to my residence and seek any clarification regarding any issue. I will provide them with any information they need without hesitation.”
He declared, “Such efforts will not scare me; in fact, they embolden me to move with more vigour.”
