Karnataka - Bangalore

I have no evidence, says Mattannavar

Staff Reporter

Charge against Kharge is based on hearsay

BANGALORE: He had no evidence to support his charge that Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge met Abdul Kareem Telgi in Bangalore Central Prison three years ago, BJP Yuva Morcha vice-president Girish Mattannavar said here on Thursday.

Mr. Mattannavar, a former police sub-inspector who was dismissed from service for placing a crude explosive device in the Legislators' Home here, told presspersons that he had heard from a former prison official that Mr. Kharge met Telgi, the prime accused in the multicrore stamp paper racket, during his visit to the prison when he was the Home Minister. "I do not have a copy of the prison register or any other evidence to support my charge," he said, adding that the State Government could constitute a judicial inquiry to verify the facts.

Mr. Mattannavar first made the charge after he came out of prison two-and-a-half years ago. As his statement was not highlighted then it did not elicit any reaction from Mr. Kharge. Two days ago, he repeated the charge. Reacting to this, Mr. Kharge denied the charge and termed it baseless.

Mr. Mattannavar had said that Mr. Kharge visited the Central Prison in November 2003. "I was put in a cell in the Central Prison hospital where other high-profile undertrials, including Telgi, were lodged. On the day of the visit I was waiting to meet Mr. Kharge. But I was disappointed when I learned from P.N. Jayasimha, a prison official, that Mr. Kharge went away after meeting Telgi," he said.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu