Karnataka CM summoned in libel case

A Bellary court has issued summons to Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, state home minister MP Prakash and forest minister C Chenigappa in a criminal defamation case filed against them by BJP MLC G Janardhan Reddy.

Reddy filed the suit against the CM and his colleagues for labeling him “mentally unstable”, following Reddy’s allegations that Kumaraswamy had been paid a Rs 150 crore bribe to overlook illegal mining in Bellary. The Chief Minister and the home minister have filed defamation cases against Reddy in Bangalore.

The BJP Bellary MLC, who claims to have evidence to corroborate his allegations against the Chief Minister, the home minister and the forest minister, on Monday said that he would reveal it on August 23.

Reddy first made his allegation on July 6 Bellary and subsequently repeated the allegations on the floor of the legislative council on July 19.