HD Kumaraswamy on photograph with Mansoor Khan: I didn't eat Biryani

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, "I did not eat any Biryani," in Vidhana Soudha

Bengaluru: In an apparent reference to his photograph with the prime accused in the multi-crore IMA Ponzi scam, Mansoor Khan, which had gone viral, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that he did not eat any biryani.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, "I did not eat any Biryani," in Vidhana Soudha. "I am accused of having Biryani at a particular person's house. I was invited during Ramzan. I went there. I did not eat any Biryani. After two health scares, I have given up non-vegetarian (food). I picked up only two morsels of rice," he said in the Assembly during a discussion on the trust vote.

The response came after BJP leader C T Ravi raised the IMA Ponzi scam case in the Assembly during the debate on the confidence motion.

Kumaraswamy said that he did not create any hurdles for the investigative agencies looking into the matter. "After a report was sent from the IT department in the Centre to my police, that's when I spoke to the DG (of police) about the lapse in the enquiry. When I went to IMA accused's office, I saw RBI certificate (on his tax payment). Now, SIT has been successful in nabbing him and they have brought him to Bengaluru. They will investigate now. We will not misuse our govt machinery," Kumaraswamy said. Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar said, "Don't bother about food habits."

On July 16, a photograph of Kumaraswamy was posted on the official Twitter handle of BJP's Karnataka unit. Along with the image, the party wrote, " First & foremost will @JanataDal_S mind explaining people of the Karnataka how did IMA fraudster escape from the state under the watch of @hd_kumaraswamy? BTW this picture of @hd_kumaraswamy having Biryani with IMA fraudster explains a lot about how the escape was planned."

First & foremost will @JanataDal_S mind explaining people of the Karnataka how did IMA fraudster escape from the state under the watch of @hd_kumaraswamy ?

BTW this picture of @hd_kumaraswamy having Biryani with IMA fraudster explains a lot about how the escape was planned https://t.co/KwdBPKcjpz pic.twitter.com/QCksmbheAj

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 16, 2019

Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from ANI

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!