Siddaramaiah not to wear controversial wrist watch

25 February, Bengaluru

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah 25 Thursday announced that he will not wear the controversial wrist watch butgive it to State Government custody.

Talking to newspersons here, Siddaramaiah said, “Since last four month I have been wearing the much hyped ‘Hublot’ watch gifted by old friend, settled in Dubai, CardiacSurgeon Gopala Pillai Girishchandra Verma in July last year, Ihave decided not to wear it any more and give it to the Governmentcustody.”

The chief minister said that following the issue raised by former Chief Ministerand JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and hyped in the media, I havereceived an affidavit from Dr Verma. The Watch costed 75000 Dhiran(Rs 14 lakh) and not Rs 70 lakh as alleged by Mr Kumaraswamy.

Siddaramaiah further said that he will also inform about thewatch gift received to IT department and pay whatever the tax has tobe paid and it would also be mentioned in the Annual Assets andLiabilities list to be submitted to the Lokayukta by July.

Replying to a question, the chief minister said that he does not intend to filedefamation case against Mr Kumaraswamy on the issue.