'Shivakumar offered me Rs 100 crore to defame...', alleges BJP's Devaraje Gowda

Shivakumar and other state ministers, however, dismissed Gowda's allegations about their involvement in the circulation of pen drives containing explicit videos involving Hassan MP Revanna.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader G Devaraje Gowda, who was recently arrested in a sexual assault case, alleged on May 17 that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar offered him Rs 100 crore to tarnish the reputations of former Chief Minister and JDS state President HD Kumaraswamy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to reports by PTI.

Gowda also claimed that Shivakumar had even sent him Rs 5 crore as an advance payment, as per the report. He was speaking to the press from a police vehicle while being sent to judicial custody on May 17.

"Police cases were booked against me after I declined the offer, prompting my arrest. I am ready to expose Shivakumar once I am released. The Congress will collapse in Karnataka," alleged the BJP leader.

He further noted, "I was asked to state that Kumaraswamy circulated the pen drives with explicit videos, involving his nephew Prajwal Revanna. However, it was DK Shivakumar who got the pen drive from Karthik Gowda, Prajwal Revanna's driver, and orchestrated the entire scheme".

Gowda claimed that a team of four ministers, including N Cheluvarayaswamy, Krishna Byre Gowda, and Priyank Kharge, had been formed to manage the developments related to the sex video scandal.

“They meticulously planned to tarnish the images of PM Modi, HD Kumaraswamy, and the BJP. They offered me Rs 100 crore and sent Rs 5 crore as an advance to Room No. 110 at Bowring Club. A local leader from Channarayapatna, Gopalaswamy, was dispatched to negotiate the deal,” further added Gowda alleged.

“DK Shivakumar extended the Rs 100 crore offer to defame Prime Minister Modi by associating him with the sex scandal. Shivakumar’s primary objective is to politically dismantle Kumaraswamy,” he also added.

“I have audio recordings of Shivakumar’s conversations. Once I release them, the Congress will collapse in Karnataka as soon as I am out of custody,” Gowda said.

Prior to this, Gowda, on May 6, had claimed that Shivakumar was behind the release of the pen drive containing videos of sexual assault. He also asserted that Prime Minister Modi was Congress' main target.

"I do not trust the SIT investigating the sex scandal. I will submit all evidence to the CBI. The videos in my possession are different from those released," he had alleged.

A day later, Shivakumar and other state ministers, however, dismissed allegations about their involvement in the circulation of pen drives containing explicit videos involving Hassan MP Revanna, PTI reported.

"Better, let Gowda file a case before Lokayukta or any other agency. I think he has some problems mentally. I'm very sorry, the national and state media shouldn't have picked up such baseless allegations. A person who is in jail, how can he make such allegations? All these are baseless. I don't want to comment", said the Deputy CM, as cited by PTI.

When asked if he would be filing any defamation case against Gowda, Shivakumar responded, "I don't want to make any comment or speak on a person who is mentally sick. I appeal to his party people to get him good treatment."

Shivakumar also highlighted his government's commitment to ensuring justice for women victims of the sexual abuse case and expressed confidence in the ongoing probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Gowda was arrested by the Karnataka police on May 11 in a sexual harassment and atrocity case.