Bengaluru: Amid protest and opposition from the BJP, the state government finalised draft notification on the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the audiogate incident in which it has been found that BJP leaders were offering money to a relative of a JDS MLA to resign from the party and join the BJP.
According to the sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), as per the draft notification, the SIT will be given police status. It will be directed to hold an investigation as per the anti-corruption laws and will be mandated to submit the investigation progress reports directly to the Chief Minister’s Office.
It is said that CM HD Kumaraswamy doesn’t want the arrest of any leaders by the SIT at this stage. “So the SIT may not be given the powers to arrest anyone. It is a political decision,” explained sources privy to the developments.
If sources in the Congress are to be believed, former CM Siddaramaiah is strongly backing the SIT formation as the issue is very serious. But the BJP has made it clear that it will hold a statewide protest if the SIT is formed. It has decided to approach the Governor or state High Court after consultation with legal luminaries.
