Right-wing activist and Namo Brigade head in Karnataka, Chakravarthy Sulibele, said on Monday that he was aware of firebrand activist Chaitra Kundapura and her associates allegedly cheating businessman Govind Babu Poojary of crores by promising to deliver a BJP ticket to contest the Assembly polls and had brought it into the notice of former BJP national secretary C T Ravi.
“I knew about Chaitra Kundapura cheating Poojary three months ago. He is a good friend of mine. I was shocked when he shared how he was cheated. I had also informed C T Ravi about the incident. Ravi told me that people should know that tickets will not be distributed for money and there is nothing wrong (in the public learning about the incident),” Sulibele told the media on Monday.
Sulibele’s statement came after his photo with one of the accused in the case, G M Abhinava Halaveerappajja, a seer of the Halashri Mutt, started doing the rounds of social media. “I am in contact with a lot of seers in the state but it has nothing to do with the case,” Sulibele said.
A photo of Poojary, the seer and former Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa also went viral on Monday.
Kundapura and five others have been arrested for allegedly cheating Poojary of Rs 5 crore by promising him a BJP ticket to contest from Byndoor Assembly segment in the Assembly elections held in May this year.
“I had met Kundapura 10 years ago. There are no financial connections with her. If the Central Crime Branch (CCB) asks me, I will provide the information that I know,” Sulibele added.
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Last week, Ravi said that the truth must come out and the investigation needs to be transparent.
Meanwhile, Kundapura, who was hospitalised for three days, was discharged on Monday and was brought back to the CCB office. Kundapura and six others have been sent to police custody till September 23.
A police source said that Kundapura and her associate Srikanth, who has also been arrested, shared the money. “Another person involved in the entire episode asked for his share. He was reportedly beaten and was kept in a room for three days. We are searching for him as well as he could provide more information about the money,” a police officer said.
