Power TV raided after airing sting operation against BS Yediyurappa's son
Bengaluru: Power TV, a regional news channel in Karnataka, has said it has been raided by the police after doing a sting operation claiming it proved the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's son BY Vijayendra is involved in corruption.
The channel has effectively closed down, with much of its infrastructure seized, the channel's editors said.
Rahman Hasan, the principal editor of the channel did a live on Facebook and said that broadcast of the channel was stopped on Monday night after the police seized computers and equipment from the channel's office during the raids earlier in the day.
According to the police, the raids were conducted after a complaint was registered against the channel's managing director at the KP Agraha police station. The complainant, Chandrakant Ramalingam, director of Ramalingam Construction, had complained that he met the news channel's MD at his office where the editor boasted of his links in political corridors.
"Ramalingam Construction company was supposed to be paid Rs 140 crore by the government. In August, the government released Rs 7.7 crore to the company. The news channel MD called me and said it's because of me that the amount was released and you need to pay me a 5% commission. I was threatened that if I don't pay, they would defame me. On August 28, I paid Rs 25 lakhs to the news channel MD. But on September 26, the channel used my name and aired programmes alleging my involvement with the CM's family," the complaint filed with the police said.
The chief minister's son and family members had moved a lower court earlier and got an injunction order against the news portals and channels from carrying the sting operation.
After the development, many congress leaders took to social media attacking the BJP government.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah tweeted: "@CMofKarnataka @BSYBJP is misusing his power to harm @powertvnews for exposing his son's corruption. I strongly condemn his autocratic act of threatening fourth pillar of democracy. There should be an enquiry to reveal the truth."
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala had also tweeted about the issue.
"BJP Govt is engulfed by Clutches of Corruption as Dented-Tainted Leaders rule the roost! CM Yeddyurappa must Resign in view of Stinging Allegations of Unabashed Corruption! Judicial Probe is the only way to Unravel the Stench of Corruption!" his tweet read.