Government orders another probe against Revanna

BANGALORE: The ongoing war between former prime minister H D Deve Gowda family and the state BJP government intensified with the latter on Wednesday ordering a Lokayukta probe into the “unnecessary purchases” to the tune of Rs 11 crore done by the BESCOM when H D Revanna, Gowda’s son, was the state energy minister.The probe has been ordered following a recommendation by the committee on public sector undertakings based on the CAG observations in its reports in 2007 and 2008 on the purchase of coyote conductors and line materials by the BESCOM. According to CAG reports, the unnecessary purchase of coyote conductors has resulted in the loss of Rs 4.69 crore and additional purchase of line materials by BESCOM resulted in burden of Rs 6.71 to the state exchequer — all when Revanna was minister. This is not the first time the state government is ordering a probe against Revanna. He is facing probes in connection with the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of engineers to the PWD, financial irregularities in the ring road project at Hassan and purchase of coal and transformers for higher price. While the first two charges are being probed by Lokayukta, the other two were referred to a judicial commission.