BJP MLC A.H. Vishwanath alleges bid to defame him after FIR by Congress leader

After an FIR was registered against him at a city police station, BJP MLC A.H. Vishwanath on Wednesday alleged that Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLC and son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with the Chief Minister’s associates, had conspired against him.

Denying allegations that he had borrowed money from Congress leader Kotehundi Mahadeva, based on whose complaint the Devaraja Police Station reportedly registered an FIR alleging assault, Mr. Vishwanath, a vocal critic of Mr. Siddaramaiah, said he had neither taken money nor availed any loan from anyone.

“I have not taken money from anybody. I do not engage in financial transactions. Moreover, how did he (Mahadeva) get so much money to lend me?” he asked.

The BJP MLC said police had earlier issued him a notice based on Mahadeva’s complaint and recorded his statement at Mysuru railway station when he was proceeding to Bengaluru. Despite recording his statement, the police later registered the FIR. “This is an attempt to defame me,” he said.

Mr. Vishwanath said he was among the senior-most political leaders in the State and alleged that the case was part of a conspiracy allegedly hatched by Dr. Yathindra and his supporters to tarnish his image.

According to the allegations, Mr. Vishwanath had allegedly borrowed around ₹55 lakh from Kotehundi Mahadeva in 2013 when he was serving as an MP and failed to repay the amount despite repeated requests. He is also accused of assaulting Mahadeva when the latter approached him at Jaladarshini in Mysuru seeking repayment.

Mr. Vishwanath denied allegations that he had approached former Minister M. T. B. Nagaraj through Mahadeva for money.

Claiming that he had maintained a clean image in public life, he said, “I am a clean and honest politician. I have stated this even on the floor of the House. I have been in politics for the last 50 years. This case is nothing but an attempt to harass me. I will move the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR.”

Mr. Vishwanath further claimed that he had made allegations against Dr. Yathindra in the past and alleged that the latter and his associates were now targeting him through the present case.