Bangalore, Aug 20: BJP President Nitin Gadkari today served legal notices on JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy and a Congress leader for alleging that mining magnates Reddy brothers had gifted a golden sword worth Rs 40 lakh to him.
Terming the allegation as “baseless” and defamatory, Gadkari threatened to initiate criminal proceedings if Kumaraswamy and state Congress spokesman V S Ugrappa did not tender an unconditional apology.
In the legal notice, Gadkari said Kumaraswamy's charge that G Janardhana Reddy and G Karunakara Reddy gifted him a Rs 40 lakh worth golden sword during his recent visit to Bellary was “totally baseless” and it was made knowingly to harm his image.
Notices have also been served on two representatives of an English tabloid for publishing the story in its August 17 edition.
Gadkari has demanded that the tabloid publish an unconditional apology, failing which he would sue it. PTI
