While the newly-elected deputy mayor is facing allegation of demanding bribe from a charitable trust, leader of opposition in the BBMP is accused of trying to grab a piece of land
Two days after taking charge, S Harish is facing accusations from charitable trust of asking for Rs 2 lakh and sending goons to beat up its volunteers when it refused to pay
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Barely two days after taking charge as Deputy Mayor (DM), S Harish is facing stormy weather already. He is facing serious allegations and has stated that he will resign the very moment those charges are proven.
Shrusti Charitable Trust, Mahalakshmi Layout has made allegations against the DM and his former 'right hand man' Venkatesh, who is the current BJP chief from Mahalakshmi Layout area.
S Harish alleged that that the trust has been indulging in illegal activities it's MD (above) Gurumurthy has been forcing innocent women into surrogacy in return for money
They claim that Harish and his men have been demanding bribes and have even been beating up volunteers of the organisation.
"They have been harassing us and demanded Rs 2 lakh bribe. When we refused to pay, Venkatesh sent his goons to beat us up," Gurumurthy, Managing Director (MD) of Shrusti Charitable Trust claimed.
Proving his charges further, he produced CCTV footage of Venkatesh's goons beating up volunteers with sticks and other weapons (MiD DAY is in possession of the footage).
Caught on camera
Not only was the attack on the volunteers clearly visible in the footage, but also Venkatesh's propaganda posters pasted in the area have images of the same persons on them.
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Defending his stand, Harish issued the shocking statement. He said, "If they prove that I was involved in this whole issue, I will resign that very moment."
He added that the firm has been indulging in illegal activities and the MD has been forcing innocent women into surrogacy in return for money.
"I believe that Gurumurthy has neither the right qualifications nor the authorisation to run such an organisation. I have never been to that firm, nor have I demanded any money from them," said Harish.
While the DM stands firm and denies the allegations, Venkatesh accepts that he was involved. "My men had gone there, but only because the trust was harassing an innocent woman.
There is something fishy about the firm and we were trying to investigate what is happening there," he said.
No police help
Meenakshi, human resources head of the group, said that their actions were high-handed. "When we refused to pay and proceeded to lodge a complaint against Harish, the ACP of the area, Ajjappa, did nothing about it.
Two of our volunteers were beaten up and locked up without any charges. They were seriously injured and Venkatesh snatched their phones and money," she alleged.
When confronted, Venkatesh did not deny the charges. "I took away their phones and told the police to imprison them because they were loitering in the area without any purpose. They were getting involved with the firm when I'd told them not to," he explains.
The case gets shadier as the Harish refuses to share any information.
"When I get hold of some crucial documents to prove that these charges are false, I will address the media. They are trying to tarnish my image and I promise to prove that the firm is illegal soon," he said.
With these claims being made, the mayor's office now has to address not only city related issues, but also battle these allegations and come clear.
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