Ramdas refutes charges, seeks CID probe

MYSORE: The district minister S A Ramdas has gone on the offensive.
Under scrutiny following allegations from his party legislator G Madhusudana that he is trying to grab 449 acres land at the foothills of Chamundi Hills, Ramdas on Sunday asked CM Jagadish Shettar and Dy CM K S Eshwarappa to order a probe into the allegations and set December 2 deadline, which could escalate the tension in the BJP over the handling of Chamundi Hills land row.
"If the government fails to respond, I'll be constrained to approach the High Court filing a writ petition on December 3 seeking a probe," he said in a move aimed at directly taking on the MLC, who is preparing to raise the issue at the House during the winter session starting on December 6.
Releasing copy of the letter he wrote to Eshwarappa on Sunday seeking a probe into the land row, Ramdas denied the charges made against him by Madhusudana. "Like the MLC, I'm also fighting to protect the prime land. I've no role in delisting of the 2,000 acres by Mysore DC P S Vastrad. I've to prove this and is ready for any probe," he told reporters. He said he left real estate business 25 years back. He took on the MLC saying he is misreading his August 22 letter to Eshwarappa wherein he has asked for the 'implementation' of the 1950 accord the state had with the Mysore royal family. "In the letter I've asked for a judicial probe. Why can't the MLC take note of it?" He refuted the MLC's charge that he has entered into a secrete understanding with the royal family.
In his Sunday's letter, Ramdas has referred to his earlier demand to order a judicial probe, which, he said, is delayed. He has asked the Dy CM to order CID or CBI probe but ruled out quitting following land grabbing charges.
Unhappy with DC's transfer
The minister denied he is shielding Vastrad but couldn't hide his displeasure for the DC's transfer and appointment of N Jayaram. Asked whether he was consulted before Vastrad was transferred, he shot back: "I was not in Karnataka." When pressed, he said it is the decision of the CM and DyCM and distanced himself from the government's decision. "I've nothing to do with the transfer," he said but admitted that he had asked the government not to transfer Vastrad earlier when Dasara was round the corner.